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^iMe.  ;^.T    PropK&ls.    English.     leiA 
A   NEW    TRANSLATION 

HEBREW    PROPHETS, 


WITH  AN  INTEODUCTION  AND  NOTES, 


GEORGE  R.  NOYES,  D.D., 

HANCOCK  PaOFESSOE  OF  HEBREW,  ETC.,  AND  DEXTER  LECTUBEE  IN  EARyABD  VM^ERSSJT. 

VOLUME    II. 

CONTAINING 

JEREMIAH,  LAMENTATIONS,  EZEKIEL,  HAGGAI, 
ZECHARIAH,  MALA.CHI,  JOSfAH,  AND  DANIEL. 


FIFTH     EDITIOST. 


BOSTON: 
AMERICAN  UNITARIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

18  74. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1806,  by 

THE  AMERICAN   UNITARIAN  ASSOCIATION, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  Uie  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusettf 


University  Press  :  Welch,  Figelow,  &  Co^ 

Cambridge. 


CONTENTS 


OF    THE    SECOND    VOLUME. 


Pagh 
Jeremiah        .•••••••! 

Lamentations     .••••••  140 

EzEKiEL  .•••••«         »  •     lo5 

Haggai 25t 

Zechariah       ...         •        •        •         •  .     262 

Malachi 285 

Jonah   ...••••••  293 

Daniel 29t 

Notes  .••••••••     321 


JEREMIAH 


The  prophecies  and  historical  notices  of  Jeremiah,  preceding  the  destruo 
tion  of  Jerusalem.  —  Ch.  I.  —  XXXIX. 

INSCRIPTION. 

1  The  words  of  Jeremiah,  the  son  of  Hilkiah,  one  of  the 

priests,  who  dwelt  in  Anathoth  in  the  land  of  Benjamin  ; 

2  to  whom  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  in  the  days  of  Josiah, 
the  son  of  Amon,  king  of  Judah,  in  the  thirteenth  year 

3  of  his  reign  ;  to  whom  it  also  came  in  the  days  of  Jehoia- 
kim,  the  son  of  Josiah,  king  of  Judah,  until  the  end  of 
the  eleventh  year  of  Zedekiah,  the  son  of  Josiah,  king 
of  Judah,  until  the  carrying  away  of  Jerusalem  into 
captivity  in  the  fifth  month. 

I. 

The  call  of  Jeremiah  to  his  oflSce ;  two  visions.  —  Ch.  I.  4  - 19. 

4,  5  The  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying :  Before  I 
formed  thee  in  the  womb,  I  knew  thee  ;  and  before  thou 
camest  into  the  world,  I  chose  thee ;  I  appointed  thee  to 
be  a  prophet  to  the  nations. 

6  Then  said  I,  Alas,  O  Lord  Jehovah  !  Behold,  I  am  not 

7  able  to  speak ;  for  I  am  a  child.     But  Jehovah  said  to  me, 
Say  not,  I  am  a  child ;  but  go  to  whomever  I  send  thee, 

8  and  speak  whatever  I  command  thee !     Be  not  afraid  of 
them !     For  I  am  with  thee   to  help   thee,  saith   Jeho- 

9  vah.     Then  Jehovah  put  forth  his  hand,  and  touched  my 
10  mouth.     Jehovah  also  said  to  me.  Behold,  I   have   put 

my  words  in  thy  mouth.     Behold,  I  have  set  thee  thia 

VOL.  II.  I 


2  JEREMIAH.  [CH   II. 

day  over  nations  and  over  kingdoms,  to  root  out,  and  to 
pull  down,  and  to  destroy,  and  to  overthrow;  and  to 
build,  and  to  plant. 

11  Then  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying,  What 
seest  thou,  Jereniiah  ?     And  I  said,  I  see  a  rod  of  almond- 

12  wood.  And  Jehovah  said  to  me.  Thou  hast  seen  right; 
for  I  am  watchful  over  my  word  to  perform  it. 

13  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me  a  second  time, 
saying,  What  seest  thou  ?     And  I  said,  I  see  a  boiling  pot, 

14  whose  face  is  turned  from  the  north.  And  Jehovah  said 
to  me.  From  the  north  shall  evil  break  forth  upon  all  the 

15  inhabitants  of  the  land.  For,  behold,  I  will  call  all  the 
tribes  of  the  kingdoms  of  the  north,  saith  Jehovah ;  and 
they  shall  come,  and  shall  set  every  one  his  throne  at  the 
entrance  of  the  gates  of  Jerusalem,  and  against  all  her 

16  walls  around,  and  against  all  the  cities  of  Judah.  And  I 
will  pronounce  my  judgments  against  them  for  all  their 
wickedness,  in  that  they  have  forsaken  me,  and  have 
burned  incense  to  other  gods,  and  worshipped  the  work 

17  of  their  own  hands.  Thou,  therefore,  gird  up  thy  loins, 
and  arise,  and  speak  to  them  all  that  I  command  thee ;  be 
not  afraid  of  them,  lest  I   confound  thee  before  them. 

18  For,  behold,  I  make  thee  this  day  a  fortified  city,  and  a 
pillar  of  iron,  and  a  wall  of  brass  against  all  tliis  land, 
against  the  kings  of  Judah,  against  the  princes  thereof, 
against  the  priests  thereof,  and  against  the  people  of  the 

19  land.  They  shall  fight  against  thee,  but  they  shall  not 
prevail  against  thee ;  for  I  will  be  with  thee,  saith  Jeho- 
vah, to  help  thee. 


II. 

God's  expostulation  vith  Israel  on  account  of  their  disobedience  and  idola- 
try. —  Ch.  II.  —  III.  5. 

1  The  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying : 

2  Go  and  proclaim  in  the  ears  of  Jerusalem, 
Thus  saith  Jehovah : 


CH.  II.]  JEREMIAH.  I 

I  remember  the  kindness  shown  thee  in  thy  youth, 
The  love  with  which  I  espoused  thee, 
When  thou  wast  led  by  me  through  the  wilderness, 
Through  a  land  that  was  not  sown. 

3  Israel  was  a  sacred  tiling  to  Jehovah, 
His  first  ripe  fruit. 

All  that  devoured  him  were  held  guilty ; 
Evil  came  upon  them,  saith  Jehovah. 

4  Hear  ye  the  word  of  Jehovah,  O  house  of  Jacob, 
And  all  the  families  of  the  house  of  Israel ! 

5  Thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

What  fault  did  your  fathers  find  in  me. 

That  they  went  far  from  me, 

And  walked  after  vanity,  and  practised  folly? 

6  They  said  not,  Where  is  Jehovah, 

Who  brought  us  up  from  the  land  of  Egypt, 
Who  led  us  through  the  wilderness, 
Through  a  land  of  deserts  and  pits, 
Through  a  land  of  drought  and  deathlike  gloom. 
Through  a  land  which  no  man  passed  through, 
And  where  no  man  dwelt  ? 

7  I  brought  you  to  a  land  of  fruitful  fields, 

To  eat  the  fruit  thereof,  and  the  good  thereof; 
But  when  ye  had  come  in,  ye  defiled  my  land. 
And  made  my  inheritance  an  abomination. 

8  The  priests  said  not.  Where  is  Jehovah  ? 
And  the  teachers  of  the  law  knew  me  not ; 
The  rulers  also  rebelled  against  me ; 

The  prophets  prophesied  in  the  name  of  Baal, 
And  walked  after  things  that  could  not  profit. 

9  Therefore   I  will   yet   contend  with   you,  saith   Jeho- 

vah ; 
Yea,  with  your  children's  children  will  I  contend. 

10  For  pass  over  to  the  islands  of  the  Chittasans,  and  see ; 
Send  ye  to  Kedar,  and  inform  yourselves  well ; 

And  see  if  such  a  thing  hath  been  done  ! 

11  Hath  any  nation  changed  their  gods,  even  those  that  are 

no  gods  ? 
But  my  people  have  changed  their  glory  for  that  which 
cannot  profit. 


4  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  n. 

12  Be  astonished,  0  ye  heavens,  at  this ! 
Shudder,  and  be  amazed  !  saith  Jehovah. 

13  For  my  people  have  committed  two  evils ; 

Me  have  they  forsaken,  the  fountain  of  living  water, 
And  they  have  hewn  out  for  themselves  cisterns, 
Broken  cisterns,  that  can  hold  no  water. 

14  Is  Israel  a  slave  ? 

Is  he  a  home-born  servant? 

Why  then  hath  he  become  a  spoil  ? 

15  The  young  lions  roar  over  him ; 
They  lift  up  their  voice  ; 

They  have  made  his  land  a  desolation  ; 

His  cities  are  burned  so  as  to  be  without  an  inhabitant. 

16  Even  the  sons  of  Noph  and  Tahpanhes  have  consumed  the 

crown  of  thy  head. 

17  Hath  not  this  come  upon  thee. 

Because  thou  didst  forsake  Jehovah  thy  God, 
When  he  would  liave  led  thee  in  the  way  ? 

18  And  now  what  hast  thou  to  do  with  the  way  of  Egypt, 
To  drink  the  waters  of  the  Nile  ? 

Or  what  hast  thou  to  do  with  the  way  of  Assyria, 
To  drink  tlie  waters  of  the  Euphrates? 

19  Thy  wickedness  shall  chasten  thee, 
And  thy  transgressions  reprove  thee  ; 

And  thou  shalt  know  and  see  that  it  is  an  evil  and  bitter 

thing 
That  thou  hast  forsaken  Jehovah  thy  God, 
And  that  the  fear  of  me  is  not  with  thee, 
Saith  the  Lord,  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

20  Of  old  hast  thou  broken  thy  yoke, 
And  burst  thy  bands. 

And  said,  ''  I  will  not  be  in  subjection ! " 

For  upon  every  high  hill. 

And  under  every  green  tree. 

Hast  thou  reclined,  playing  the  harlot. 

21  Yet  I  had  planted  thee  a  noble  vine, 
Wholly  a  genuine  seed ; 

How  then  art  thou  changed  to  the  degenerate  shoot  of  a 
strange  vine  ? 

22  For  though  thou  wash  thee  with  nitre, 


CH.  II.]  JEREMIAH.  5 

And  take  thee  much  soap, 

Yet  is  thine  iniquity  black  before  me,  salth  Jehovah. 

23       How  canst  thou  say,  "  I  am  not  polluted," 

"  I  have  not  gone  after  Baals  "  ? 

Behold  thy  way  in  the  valley  ! 

Know  what  thou  hast  done, 

A  swift  young  camel,  traversing  her  ways. 
21  A  wild  ass,  used  to  the  wilderness. 

That  in  her  desire  snufFeth  up  the  wind, 

In  her  occasion,  who  can  turn  her  aside  ? 

All  that  seek  her  do  not  weary  themselves ; 

In  her  month  they  will  find  her. 

25  Withhold  thy  feet  from  being  unshod, 
And  thy  throat  from  thirst ! 

But  thou  sayest.  There  is  no  remedy !     No ! 
For  I  love  strangers, 
And  after  them  I  will  go. 

26  As  a  thief  is  ashamed  when  he  is  taken, 
So  is  the  house  of  Israel  ashamed. 
They,  their  kings,  and  their  princes, 
And  their  priests,  and  their  prophets ; 

27  That  say  to  a  stock,  Thou  art  my  father. 
And  to  a  stone,  Thou  hast  brought  me  forth ! 
For  they  turn  the  back  to  me,  and  not  the  face. 
Yet  in  the  time  of  their  trouble  they  say. 
Arise  and  save  us  ! 

28  But  where  are  thy  gods,  which  thou  hast  made  thee  ? 
Let  them  arise,  if  they  can  save  thee  in  the  time  of  thy 

trouble ! 
For  according  to  the  number  of  thy  cities  are  thy  gods,  O 
Judah ! 

29  Why  do  ye  enter  into  controversy  with  me  ? 
Ye  have  all  rebelled  against  me,  saith  Jehovah. 

30  In  vain  have  I  smitten  your  children ; 
They  would  receive  no  correction  ; 

Your  own  sword  hath  devoured  your  prophets, 
Like  a  destroying  lion. 

31  O  generation  !  Behold  ye  the  word  of  Jehovah! 
Have  I  been  a  wilderness  to  Israel  ? 


fl  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  Ill 

Or  a  land  of  darkness  ? 

Why  then  say  my  people, 

"  We  will  rove  at  pleasure, 

We  will  come  no  more  to  thee  "  ? 

32  Can  a  virgin  forget  her  ornaments, 
Or  a  bride  her  belt  ? 

Yet  my  people  have  forgotten  me,  days  without  number ! 

33  Why  trimmest  thou  thy  way  to  seek  love  ? 

On  this  account  hast  thou  accustomed  thy  ways  to  wick- 
edness. 

34  Upon  thy  skirts  is  found  the  blood  of  the  innocent  poor, 
Whom  thou  didst  not  find  committing  violence. 

35  But   notwithstanding   all   this,  thou   sayest,  I  am   inno- 

cent; 
Surely  his  anger  is  turned  away  from  me. 
Behold,  I  will  enter  into  judgment  with  thee, 
Because  thou  sayest,  "  I  have  not  sinned." 

36  Why  dost  thou  run  so  eagerly,  changing  thy  way  ? 
By  Egypt  also  shalt  thou  be  put  to  shame, 

Even  as  thou  hast  been  put  to  shame  by  Assyria. 

37  From  Egypt  also  shalt  thou  go  forth 
With  thy  hands  upon  thy  head. 

For  Jehovah  hath  rejected  the  objects  of  thy  confidence, 
Therefore  shalt  thou  not  prosper  in  them. 

1  It  is  said,  if  a  man  put  away  his  wife, 

And  she  go  from  him,  and  become  another  man's, 

Sliall  he  return  to  her  again  ? 

Shall  not  that  land  be  polluted  ? 

But  thou  hast  played  tlie  harlot  with  many  lovers; 

And  shalt  thou  return  to  me,  saith  Jehovah? 

2  Lift  up  thine  eyes  to  the  high  places,  and  see ! 
Where  hast  thou  not  been  defiled? 

In  the  ways  hast  thou  sat  waiting. 
As  the  Arabian  in  the  desert, 

And  hast  polluted  the  land  by  thy  lewdness  and  thy  wick- 
edness. 

3  And  although  the  showers  have  been  withholden, 
And  there  hath  been  no  latter  rain, 

Yet  thou  hast  had  a  harlot's  forehead ; 


en.  III.]  JEREMIAH. 

Thou  hast  refused  to  be  ashamed. 

4  Wilt  thou  not  from  this  time  cry  to  me, 
Thou  art  my  fjither, 

Yea,  the  friend  of  my  youth  art  thou  ? 

5  Will  he  retain  his  anger  forever  ? 
Will  he  keep  it  forevermore  ? 
Behold,  thus  dost  thou  speak, 

But  thou  doest  evil  with  all  thy  might. 


III. 

Reformation  enjoined  and  punishment  denounced.  —  Ch.  III.  6  —  VI. 

6  Jehovah  said  to  me,  in  the  time  of  King  Josiah,  Hast 
thou  heard  what  rebellious  Israel  hath  done?  She  hath 
gone  upon  every  high  mountain  and  under  every  green 

7  tree,  and  there  hath  played  the  harlot.  And  I  said,  after 
she  had  done  all  these  things.  Return  thou  to  me !  But 
she  returned  not.     And  her  faithless  sister  Judah  saw  it. 

8  And  I  saw,  when,  for  all  the  adulteries  which  rebellious 
Israel  had  committed,  I  had  put  her  away,  and  given  her  a 
bill  of  divorce,  that  her  faithless  sister  Judah  was  not  afraid, 

9  but  went  and  played  the  harlot  also  herself.  And  when 
by  the  fame  of  lier  lewdness  she  had  polluted  the  land, 

10  committing  adultery  with  stone  and  wood,  yet  for  all  this 
did  not  her  faithless  sister  Judah  return  to  me  with  her 

U  whole  heart,  but  feignedly,  saith  Jehovah.  Then  said 
Jehovah  to  me,  Rebellious  Israel  is  less  guilty  than  faith- 

12  less  Judah.  Go  and  proclaim  these  words  toward  the 
north  :  — 

Return,  O  rebellious  Israel,  saith  Jehovah ! 
I  will  not  turn  a  frowning  face  upon  you  ; 
For  I  am  merciful,  saith  Jehovah, 
I  retain  not  anger  forever. 

13  Only  acknowledge  thine  iniquity, 

That  thou  hast  rebelled  against  Jehovah  thy  God, 

And  hast  roved  about  to  strangers 

Under  every  green  tree. 

And  hast  not  obeyed  my  voice,  saith  Jehovah. 


8  JEREMIAH.  [CH  III. 

14  Heturn,  ye  rebellions  children !  saith  Jehovah ; 
Though  I  have  rejected  you, 

Yet  will  I  receive  you  again, 

One  from  a  city,  and  two  from  a  nation, 

And  I  will  bring  you  to  Zion. 

15  And  I  will  give  you  shepherds  after  my  own  heart, 
Who  shall  feed  you  with  wisdom  and  discretion. 

16  And  when  ye  shall  have  multiplied  and  increased  in  the 

land,  saith  Jehovah, 
Then  shall  ye  no  more  speak  of  the  ark  of  the  covenant 

of  Jehovah, 
Nor  shall  it  come  into  your  mind. 
None  shall  remember  it ; 
None  shall  care  for  it ; 
It  shall  not  be  made  any  more. 

17  For  then  shall  Jerusalem  be  called  the  throne  of  Jehovah, 
And  all  the  nations  shall  resort  to  it ; 

They  shall  resort  to  Jehovah,  to  Jerusalem, 
And  shall  no  more  walk  after  the  perverseness  of  their 
evil  hearts. 

18  In  those  days  shall  the  house  of  Judah  unite  themselves 

with  the  house  of  Israel, 
And  they  shall  come  together  from  the  north  country, 
To  the  land  which  I  caused  your  fathers  to  inherit. 

19  Then  I  said,  how  will  I  place  thee  among  my  children, 
And  give  thee  a  pleasant  land, 

A  goodly  inheritance  among  the  hosts  of  nations ! 
And  I  said,  Thou  wilt  call  me  thy  father; 
Thou  wilt  not  turn  aside  from  following  me. 

20  Yet  as  a  woman  is  faithless  to  her  husband. 
So  have  ye  been  faithless  to  me, 

0  house  of  Israel !  saith  Jehovah. 

21  A  voice  is  heard  upon  the  hills, 

The  weeping  and  supplications  of  the  children  of  Israel  I 
For  they  have  perverted  their  way ; 
They  have  forgotten  Jehovah  their  God. 

Jeliovah. 

22  Return,  0  revolted  children ! 

1  will  heal  your  rebellion. 


CH.  iv.j  JEREMIAH.  9 

The  People. 
Behold,  we  come  to  thee, 
For  thou  art  Jehovah  our  God ! 

23  Truly  in  vain  from  the  hills, 

In  vain  from  the  mountains  do  we  seek  abundance ; 
Only  from  Jehovah  our  God  cometh  salvation  for  Israel. 

24  For  the  things  of  shame  have  devoured  the  substance  of 

our  fathers  from  our  youth, 
Their  sheep  and  their  oxen. 
Their  sons  and  their  daughters. 

25  We  lie  down  in  our  shame, 
And  our  ignominy  covereth  us  ; 

For  we  have  sinned  against  Jehovah  our  God, 

We  and  our  fathers,  from  our  youth  even  to  this  day, 

And  have  not  obeyed  the  voice  of  Jehovah  our  God. 

1  If  thou  wilt  return  to  me,  0  Israel,  saith  Jehovah, 
Thou  shalt  return  [to  thy  land]  ; 

If  thou  wilt  put  away  thy  abominations  from  my  sight. 
Thou  shalt  no  more  be  a  wanderer  [in  a  foreign  landj. 

2  If  thou  wilt  swear.  As  Jehovah  liveth ! 
In  truth,  injustice,  and  in  righteousness, 

Then  shall  the  nations  bless  themselves  by  thee, 
And  in  thee  shall  they  glory. 

3  Thus  saith  Jehovah  to  the  men  of  Judah  and  Jerusalem  j 
Break  up  your  fallow  ground, 

And  sow  not  among  thorns  ! 

4  Circumcise  yourselves  to  Jehovah ; 
Yea,  circumcise  your  hearts, 

Ye  men  of  Judali,  and  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem! 

Lest,  for  the  evil  of  your  doings, 

My  fury  break  Ibrth  like  fire. 

And  burn  so  that  none  can  quench  it. 

5  Declare  ye  in  Judah, 

And  proclaim  in  Jerusalem,  and  say. 

Blow  ye  the  trumpet  in  the  land ; 

Cry  ye  aloud,  and  say. 

Gather  yourselves  together. 

And  let  us  go  into  the  fortified  cities 

6  Set  up  a  standard  toward  Zion, 

1  * 


10  JEREMIAH.  [cp.:IV 

Flee,  make  no  stand  ! 

For  I  am  about  to  bring  evil  from  the  north, 

Even  great  destruction. 

7  The  lion  goeth  up  from  his  thicket, 
The  destroyer  of  nations  is  on  his  way ; 

He  goeth  forth  from  his  place  to  make  thy  land  desolate ; 
Thy  cities  shall  be  laid  waste  so  as  to  be  without  an  in- 
habitant. 

8  For  this  cause  gird  on  sackcloth, 
Lament  and  howl ! 

For  the  fierce  anger  of  Jehovah  is  not  turned  awaj  from  us. 

9  In  that  day,  saith  Jehovah, 
Shall  the  heart  of  the  king  perish, 
And  the  heart  of  the  princes  ; 
The  priests  shall  be  amazed, 
And  the  prophets  confounded. 

10  Then  said  I,  Alas,  O  Lord  Jehovah ! 

Surely  thou  hast  greatly  deceived  this  people  and  Jerusa- 
lem; 
Thou  hast  said,  "  Ye  shall  have  peace  " ; 
And  the  sword  reacheth  to  the  very  life ! 

11  At  that  time  shall  it  be  said  to  this  people  and  to  Jeru- 

salem : 
A  dry  wind  cometh  from  tlie  hills  of  the  desert, 
It  cometh  toward  my  people, 
Not  to  fan,  nor  to  cleanse. 

12  Yea,  a  wind  stronger  than  this  shall  come ; 
Now  will  I  myself  give  sentence  against  them. 

13  Behold,  he  cometh  up  like  clouds, 
And  his  chariots  are  like  a  whirlwind ; 
His  horses  are  swifter  than  eagles. 
Woe  to  us !  for  we  are  laid  waste ! 

14  AVash  thy  heart  from  wickedness,  O  Jerusalem, 
That  thou  mayst  be  saved ! 

How  long  shall  thy  evil  devices  lodge  within  thee  ? 

15  For  a  voice  proclaimeth  tidings  from  Dan, 
And  annouiiceth  calamity  from  mount  Ephraim. 

16  Proclaim  ye  to  the  nations. 
Behold,  publish  ye  to  Jerusalem, 


CH.  iv.J  JEREMIAH.  11 

"  Watchmen  are  coming  from  a  far  country, 
And  lift  their  voice  against  the  cities  of  Judah.** 

17  Like  keepers  of  fields  are  they  round  about  her 
Because  she  hath  rebelled  against  me,  saith  Jehovah. 

18  Thy  way  and  thy  doings  have  brought  this  upon  thee ; 
This  is  the  fruit  of  thy  wickedness  ; 

It  is  bitter ;  it  reacheth  to  thy  heart. 

19  O  my  breast,  my  breast! 

I  am  pained  in  the  walls  of  my  heart ; 
My  heart  trembleth  within  me  ;  I  cannot  be  silent ; 
For  thou  hearest,  O  my  soul,  the  sound  of  the  trumpet, 
The  alarm  of  war ! 

20  There  is  a  cry  of  destruction  upon  destruction ; 
Yea,  the  whole  land  is  laid  waste ; 
Suddenly  are  my  tents  destroyed, 

And  my  canopies  in  an  instant. 

21  How  long  shall  I  see  the  standard, 
Hear  the  sound  of  the  trumpet  ? 

Jehovah. 

22  My  people  is  foolish, 
They  have  no  regard  to  me ; 
Stupid  children  are  they, 
And  have  no  understanding; 
They  are  wise  to  do  evil. 

But  for  doing  good  they  have  no  knowledge. 

The  Prophet. 

23  I  look  to  the  earth,  and  lo!  emptiness  and  desolation; 

To  the  heavens,  and  there  is  no  light. 

24  I  look  to  the  mountains,  and  lo  !  they  tremble. 
And  all  the  hills  shake. 

25  I  look,  and  lo !  there  is  not  a  man, 
And  all  the  birds  of  heaven  are  fled. 

26  I  look,  and  lo  !   Carmel  is  a  desert. 
And  all  its  cities  are  thrown  down, 
Before  the  presence  of  Jehovah, 
Before  the  heat  of  his  anger. 

27  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

The  whole  land  shall  be  desolate, 


12  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  V. 

Yet  will  I  not  make  a  full  end. 

28  Therefore  shall  the  earth  mourn, 
And  the  heavens  above  be  black, 

Because  I  have  spoken,  and  I  will  not  repent ; 
I  have  purposed,  and  I  will  not  recede  from  it. 

29  At  the  noise  of  the  horsemen  and  bowmen  every  city  fleeth ; 
They  s^o  into  thickets, 

And  climb  up  upon  the  rocks ; 

All  the  cities  are  forsaken, 

And  not  a  man  dwelleth  in  them. 

30  And  thou,  destined  to  perish,  what  wilt  thou  do  ? 
Though  thou  clothe  thyself  in  scarlet, 

And  deck  thyself  with  ornaments  of  gold, 
And  rend  thine  eyes  with  paint, 
In  vain  dost  thou  adorn  thyself; 
Thy  lovers  despise  thee ; 
They  seek  thy  life. 

31  I  hear  a  cry,  as  of  a  woman  in  travail, 

Anguish,  as  of  her  that  bringeth  forth  her  first  child. 

The  voice  of  the  daughter  of  Zion. 

She  sobbeth,  she  spreadeth  out  her  hands, 

"  Ah  !  woe  is  me  !  I  am  dying  by  murderers  1 " 

1  Run  ye  through  the  streets  of  Jerusalem,  [saith  Jeho- 

vah,] 
And  see  now,  and  know,  and  seek  in  her  broad  places 
If  ye  can  find  a  single  man. 
If  there  be  one  that  doeth  justice. 
That  seeketh  uprightness, 
And  I  will  forgive  her. 

2  Yea,  though  they  say,  "  As  Jehovah  liveth ! " 
Yet  do  tliey  swear  falsely. 

3  Are  not  thine  eyes  upon  the  truth,  O  Jehovah »' 
Thou  hast  smitten  them,  but  they  have  not  grieved ; 
Thou  hast  consumed  them,  but  they  have  refused  to  re- 
ceive correction ; 

They  have  made  their  faces  harder  than  a  rock ; 
They  have  refused  to  return. 

4  Then  I  said,  These  are  only  the  poor ; 

They  are  foolish,  because  they  know  not  the  way  of  Jeho- 
vah, 


tjH.  v.]  JEREMIAH.  13 

The  law  of  their  God. 

5  I  will  get  me  to  the  great  ones, 
And  I  will  speak  to  them ; 

For  they  know  the  way  of  Jehovah, 

The  law  of  their  God. 

But  these  also  have  together  broken  the  yoke ; 

They  have  burst  the  bands. 

6  Therefore  the  lion  out  of  the  forest  shall  slay  them, 
And  the  evening  wolf  shall  destroy  them. 

The  leopard  shall  keep  watch  upon  their  cities ; 
Every  one  that  goeth  out  from  them  shall  be  torn  in  pieces ; 
Because  their  transgressions  are  multiplied. 
Their  rebellions  are  increased. 

7  How  can  I  pardon  thee  for  this  ?  ["saith  Jehovah  ;] 
Thy  children  have  forsaken  me, 

And  sworn  by  them  that  are  no  gods. 
I  have  fed  them  to  the  full,  yet  do  they  commit  adultery, 
And  assemble  themselves  in  crowds  in  the  house  of  the 
harlot. 

8  They  are  as  well-fed  horses  in  the  morning  ; 
Every  one  neigheth  after  his  neighbor's  wife. 

9  Shall  I  not  punish  for  the^e  things,  saith  Jehovah  ? 
Shall  I  not  avenge  myself  on  such  a  nation  as  this? 

10  Go  ye  up  upon  her  walls  and  destroy! 
Yet  make  ye  not  a  full  end ! 

Take  ye  away  her  branches, 
For  they  belong  not  to  Jehovah  ! 

1 1  For  they  have  proved  false  to  me. 

The  house  of  Israel  and  the  house  of  Judah,  saith  Jehovah 

12  They  have  denied  Jehovah, 
And  have  said,  "  It  is  not  He ; 
Evil  shall  not  come  upon  us. 
Nor  shall  we  see  sword  or  famine. 

13  The  prophets  are  but  wind, 
And  the  word  is  not  in  them  ; 
Thus  may  it  happen  to  them ! " 

14  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah,  God  of  hosts* 
Because  ye  say  such  things, 


14  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  V. 

Behold,  I  will  make  thy  words  in  thy  mouth  fire, 
And  this  people  wood, 
And  it  shall  devour  them. 

15  Behold,  I  will  bring  against  you  a  nation  from  afar, 

0  house  of  Israel,  saith  Jehovah ; 
It  is  a  mighty  nation  ; 

It  is  an  ancient  nation  ; 

A  nation  whose  language  thou  dost  not  know, 

And  whose  words  thou  canst  not  understand. 

16  Their  quiver  is  like  an  open  sepulchre ; 
They  are  all  mighty  men. 

17  They  shall  consume  thy  harvest  and  thy  bread ; 
They  shall  consume  thy  sons  and  thy  daughters ; 
They  shall  consume  thy  sheep  and  thy  oxen ; 
They  shall  consume  thy  vine  and  thy  fig-tree ; 
They  shall  destroy  witli  the  sword  thy  fortified  cities, 
In  which  thou  placest  thy  trust. 

18  Yet  even  in  those  days,  saith  Jehovah, 

1  will  not  make  a  full  end  with  you. 

19  And  when  they  shall  say. 

Wherefore  hath  Jehovah  our  God  brought  all  these  things 

upon  us  ? 
Then  shalt  thou  say  to  them, 
"  As  ye  have  forsaken  me. 
And  served  strange  gods  in  your  land. 
So  shall  ye  serve  strangers  in  a  land  that  is  not  yours.** 

20  Declare  ye  this  in  the  house  of  Jacob, 
And  publish  it  in  Judah,  saying : 

21  Hear  ye  now  this, 

O  foolish  people  and  without  understanding, 
Who  have  eyes  and  see  not, 
Who  have  ears  and  hear  not ! 

22  Will  ye  not  fear  me,  saith  Jehovah? 
Will  ye  not  tremble  before  me. 

Who  appointed  the  sand  a  bound  to  the  sea, 
A  perpetual  barrier,  which  it  cannot  pass  ? 
Though  the  waves  thereof  toss  themselves. 
Yet  do  they  not  prevail, 
Though  they  roar,  yet  can  they  not  pass  over  it. 

23  But  this  people  hath  a  revolting  and  rebellious  heart.. 


''H.  VI.]  JEREMIAH.  15 

They  revolt  continually. 

24  Neither  say  they  in  their  heart, 
Let  us  now  fear  Jehovah  our  God, 

Who  giveth  rain,  both  the  former  and  the  latter,  in  its 

season, 
And  secureth  to  us  the  appointed  weeks  of  the  harvest. 

25  Your  iniquities  have  turned  away  these  things, 

And  your  sins  have  withholden  that  which  is  good  from 
you. 

26  For  among  my  people  are  found  wicked  men, 
Who  lie  on  the  watch  like  fowlers  ; 

They  set  a  trap  that  they  may  catch  men. 

27  As  a  cage  is  full  of  birds, 

So  are  their  houses  full  of  fraud. 
Therefore  are  they  grown  great  and  rich  ; 

28  They  have  become  fat  and  shine  ; 

Yea,  they  overpass  the  deeds  of  the  wicked ; 
They  maintain  no  cause. 
No  cause  of  the  fatherless,  and  they  prosper ; 
And  the  right  of  the  needy  do  they  not  defend. 

29  Shall  I  not  punish  for  these  things,  saith  Jehovah  ? 
Shall  I  not  be  avenged  on  such  a  nation  as  this  ? 

30  Astonishing  and  horrible  is  that  which  is  done  in  this 

land; 

31  The  prophets  prophesy  falsely. 

And  the  priests  rule  under  their  guidance, 
And  my  people  love  to  have  it  so. 
But  what  will  ye  do  in  the  end  of  it  ? 

1  Flee,  O  ye  sons  of  Benjamin,  from  Jerusalem, 
And  blow  ye  the  trumpet  in  Tekoa, 

And  lift  up  the  banner  in  Beth-haccerem ! 
For  evil  threateneth  from  the  North ; 
Yea,  great  destruction. 

2  O  daughter  of  Zion,  the  comely  and  delicate, 
Thee  have  I  doomed  to  destruction ! 

3  The  shepherds  with  their  flocks  shall  come  to  her ; 
They  shall  pitch  their  tents  against  her  round  about; 
They  shall  feed  each  one  in  his  place. 

4  "  Prepare  ye  war  against  her,  [shall  they  say ;] 
Arise,  and  let  us  go  up  at  noonday ; 


16  JEEEMIAH.  [CH.  n. 

Alas  for  us  !  for  the  day  goeth  away, 

For  the  shadows  of  evening  are  lengthened. 

5  Arise,  and  let  us  go  up  by  night, 
And  let  us  destroy  her  palaces  !  " 

6  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts : 
Hew  ye  down  trees, 

And  raise  a  mound  against  Jerusalem ! 
She  is  a  city  to  be  punished ; 
She  is  full  of  oppression. 

7  As  a  fountain  sendeth  forth  its  waters, 
So  she  sendeth  forth  her  wickedness. 
Violence  and  rapine  are  heard  within  her ; 
Before  me  continually  are  bruises  and  wounds. 

8  Receive  correction,  O  Jerusalem, 
Lest  my  soul  be  alienated  from  thee, 
Lest  I  make  thee  a  desolation, 

A  land  not  inhabited  ! 

9  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  : 

They  shall  thoroughly  glean  the  remnant  of  Israel  as  a 

vine ; 
Turn  thy  hand  like  a  grape-gatherer  again  to  the  baskets  I 

The  Prophet. 

10  To  whom  shall  I  speak  ? 

To  whom  give  warning,  so  that  they  shall  hear? 
Behold,  their  ear  is  uncircumcised,  so  that  they  cannot 

hearken  ; 
Behold,  the  word  of  Jehovah  is  to  them  a  derision ; 
They  have  no  delight  in  it. 

1 1  Therefore  I  am  full  of  the  fury  of  Jehovah  ; 
I  am  weary  of  holding  it ; 

I  will  pour  it  out  alike  upon  the  children  in  the  street, 
And  upon  the  assembly  of  the  young  men. 
Yea,  also  the  husband  with  the  wife  shall  be  taken, 
The  old  man,  and  he  that  is  full  of  days. 

12  Their  houses  also  shall  be  transferred  to  others, 
Their  fields  and  their  wives  together. 

For  I  will  stretch  out  my  hand  over  the  inhabitants  of  the 
land,  saith  Jehovah. 

13  For  from  the  least  of  them  even  to  the  greatest. 


en.  VI.]  JEREMIAH.  17 

Every  one  is  greedy  of  gain  ; 

Prophet  and  priest  alike, 

Every  one  of  them  practiseth  deceit. 

14  They  heal  the  wound  of  my  people  slightly, 
Saying,  Peace !  peace !  when  there  is  no  peace. 

15  Are  they  ashamed  that  they  have  done  abominable  things? 
Nay,  they  are  not  at  all  ashamed ; 

They  know  not  how  to  blush ; 

Therefore  shall  they  fall  with  them  that  fall ; 

At  the  time  when  I  punish  them, 

They  shall  be  cast  down,  saith  Jehovah. 

16  Thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

Stand  ye  upon  the  ways  and  look ; 

And  ask  for  the  old  paths, 

"  Where  is  the  good  way?" 

Walk  ye  in  it,  and  ye  shall  find  for  yourselves  rest. 

But  they  say,  We  will  not  walk  in  it. 

17  I  have  also  set  watchmen  over  you,  [saying,] 
Hearken  to  the  sound  of  the  trumpet! 

But  they  say.  We  will  not  hearken. 

18  Therefore  hear,  O  ye  nations. 
And  know,  ye  assembled  multitude, 
What  shall  come  upon  them ! 

19  Hear  thou,  O  earth  ! 

Behold,  I  bring  evil  upon  this  people, 

The  fruit  of  their  devices  ; 

Because  they  have  not  hearkened  to  my  words, 

And  have  even  rejected  my  law. 

20  To  what  purpo.^e  is  incense  brought  to  me  from  Sheba, 
And  the  sweet-smelUng  reed  from  a  far  country? 

Your  burnt-offerings  are  not  acceptable, 
Nor  are  your  sacrifices  sweet  to  me. 

21  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

Behold,  I  lay  stumbling-blocks  before  this  people, 
Upon  which  fathers  and  sons  shall  stumble  together, 
The  neighbor  and  his  friend,  and  shall  perish. 

22  Thus  saith  Jehovah : 

Behold,  a  people  cometh  from  the  land  of  the  North ; 

A  great  nation  riseth  up  from  the  extremities  of  the  earthy 


J8  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  VI 

23  They  bear  the  bow  and  the  spear  j 
They  are  cruel  and  show  no  mercy ; 
Their  voice  roareth  like  the  sea ; 
And  upon  horses  do  they  ride, 

Arrayed  as  a  warrior  against  thee,  O  daughter  of  Zion. 

The  Prophet. 

24  We  have  heard  the  report  thereof; 
Our  hands  lose  their  strength ; 
Anguish  hath  taken  hold  of  us, 
Pain,  as  of  a  woman  in  travail. 

25  Go  not  forth  into  the  field, 
Nor  walk  ye  in  the  highway ! 
For  the  sword  of  the  enemy 
And  terror  are  on  every  side. 

26  O  daughter  of  my  people,  gird  thee  with  sackcloth, 
And  roll  thyself  in  ashes  ! 

Make  thee  mourning  as  for  an  only  son,. 

Most  bitter  lamentation ! 

For  suddenly  shall  the  spoiler  come  upon  us. 

JeJwvah. 

27  I  have  set  thee,  like  a  tower,  for  an  assayer  among  my 

people. 
That  thou  mayst  know  and  try  their  way. 

28  They  are  all  stubborn  revolters. 
Slanderers  are  they,  brass  and  iron  ; 
They  are  all  corrupt. 

29  The  bellows  burn; 

The  lead  is  consumed  by  the  fire ; 
The  refiner  hath  melted  in  vain. 
For  the  bad  are  not  separated. 

30  Rejected  silver  shall  men  call  them. 
Because  Jehovah  hath  rejected  them. 


CH.  VII.]  JEREMIAH.  19 


IV. 

Wickedness  of  the  Jews  reproved,  and  punishment  denounced  against 
them.  — Ch.  VIL  — IX. 

1  The  word  which  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah,  say- 

2  ing :  Stand  in  the  gate  of  the  house  of  Jehovah,  and  pro- 
claim these  words,  and  say  :  — 

Hear  the  word  of  Jehovah,  all  ye  of  Judah, 
Who  enter  in  at  these  gates  to  worship  Jehovah ! 

8  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel : 
Amend  your  ways  and  your  doings, 
And  I  will  suffer  you  to  dwell  in  this  place  ! 

4  Trust  ye  not  in  lying  words,  when  they  say, 
"  The  temple  of  Jehovah,  the  temple  of  Jehovah, 
The  temple  of  Jehovah  are  these." 

K  Yet  if  ye  will  thoroughly  amend  your  ways  and  your  doings. 
And  dispense  justice  between  man  and  man, 

6  If  ye  oppress  not  the  sti-anger,  the  fatherless,  and  the  widow. 
And  shed  not  innocent  blood  in  this  place, 

And  go  not  after  other  gods  to  your  own  hurt, 

7  Then  will  I  cause  you  to  dwell  in  this  place, 
In  the  land  which  I  gave  to  your  fathers. 
For  ever  and  ever. 

8  Behold,  ye  trust  in  lying  words  without  profit. 

9  Ye  steal,  and  murder,  and  commit  adultery, 
And  swear  falsely,  and  burn  incense  to  Baal, 
And  go  after  strange  gods,  which  ye  know  not, 

10  And  then  come  and  stand  before  me  in  this  house, 
Which  is  called  by  my  name, 

And  say,  "  We  are  delivered  !  " 

Whilst  ye  practise  all  these  abominations. 

11  Is  this  house,  which  is  called  by  my  name, 
Become  a  den  for  robbers  in  your  eyes  ? 
Behold,  I  myself  have  seen  it,  saith  Jehovah. 

12  But  go  now  to  my  place,  which  was  in  Shiloh, 
Where  I  caused  my  name  to  dwell  at  the  first, 
And  see  what  I  have  done  to  it 

On  account  of  the  wickedness  of  my  people  Israel. 


20  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  Til. 

13  And  now  because  ye  have  done  all  these  works,  saith  Je- 

hovah, 
And  I  have  spoken  to  you,  rising  early  and  speaking, 
But  ye  hearkened  not, 
And  I  have  called  to  you, 
But  ye  answered  not, 

14  Therefore  will  I  do  to  the  house  which  is  called  by  my 

name. 
In  which  ye  place  your  confidence. 

And  to  the  place  which  I  gave  to  you  and  to  your  fathers, 
As  I  have  done  to  Shiloh. 

15  I  will  cast  you  out  from  my  presence, 
As  I  have  cast  out  all  your  brethren, 
The  whole  race  of  Ephraim. 

16  And  as  for  thee,  pray  not  for  this  people, 
Nor  lift  up  a  cry  or  a  prayer  for  them. 
Nor  make  intercession  to  me  for  them ; 
For  I  will  not  hear  thee. 

17  Seest  thou  not  what  they  do 

In  the  cities  of  Judah,  and  the  streets  of  Jerusalem  ? 

18  The  sons  gather  tlie  wood, 
And  the  fathers  kindle  the  fire. 
And  the  women  knead  dough, 

To  make  cakes  for  the  queen  of  heaven. 
And  to  pour  out  libations  to  strange  gods, 
That  they  may  vex  me. 

19  But  do  they  vex  me,  saith  Jehovah  ? 

Do  they  not  rather  vex  themselves,  to  the  confusion  of 
their  own  faces  ? 

20  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah : 

Behold  my  anger  and  my  fury  shall  be  poured  out  on  this 

place, 
Upon  man  and  upon  beast ; 
Upon  the  trees  of  the  field, 
And  upon  the  fruit  of  the  ground ; 
It  shall  tuirn  and  not  be  quenched. 

21  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel : 
Add  your  burnt-offerings  to  your  sacrifices. 

And  eat  ye  the  flesh. 

22  For  I  spake  not  to  your  fathers,  nor  commanded  them 


en.  vii.J  JEREMIAH.  21 

Concerning  burnt-offerings  and  sacrifices, 

At  the  time  when  I  brought  them  out  of  the  land  of 

Egypt; 

23  But  this  command  gave  I  to  them: 
"  Hearlvcn,"  said  I,  "  to  my  voice, 
And  I  will  be^your  God, 

And  ye  shall  be  my  people. 

And  walk  ye  in  all  the  ways  which  I  command  you, 

That  it  may  go  well  with  you." 

24  But  they  hearkened  not,  nor  inclined  their  ear. 

But  walked  in  the  devices  and  obstinacy  of  their  evil  heart, 
Turning  their  backs  and  not  their  faces  toward  me. 

25  From  the  day  when  your  fathers  came  forth  from  the  land 

of  Egypt, 
Even  to  this  day, 

I  have  also  sent  to  you  all  my  servants,  the  prophets, 
Daily  rising  early  and  sending. 

26  But  they  have  not  hearkened  to  me. 
Nor  have  they  inclined  their  ear ; 
But  they  have  hardened  their  neck. 

And  acted  more  wickedly  than  their  fathers. 

27  And  when  thou  shalt  speak  all  these  things  to  them, 
They  will  not  hearken  to  thee ; 

And  when  thou  shalt  call  to  them, 
They  will  make  thee  no  answer. 

28  Therefore  shalt  thou  say  to  them. 

This  is  the  nation  that  hearkeneth  not  to  the  voice  of  Je- 
hovah their  God, 
And  taketh  no  correction ; 
Truth  hath  failed,  and  is  cut  off  from  their  mouth. 

29  Cut  off  thy  locks,  O  Jerusalem,  and  cast  them  away ! 
Set  up  a  lamentation  upon  the  high  places  ! 

For  Jehovah  hath  rejected  and  forsaken  the  children 
Against  which  his  wrath  hath  been  kindled. 

80  For  the  children  of  Judah  have  done  evil  in  my  sight,  salth 
Jehovah, 
They  have  set  their  abominations  in  the  housd 
Which  is  called  by  my  name,  to  pollute  it. 

31  They  have  built  the  high  places  of  Tophet, 
Which  is  in  the  valley  of  the  son  of  Hinnom, 
To  burn  their  sons  and  their  daughters  in  the  fire. 


22  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  VIII. 

Which  I  commanded  not, 

Which  even  came  not  into  my  mind. 
32  Therefore  behold,  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah, 

That  it  shall  no  more  be  called  Tophet, 

Or  the  valley  of  the  son  of  Hinnom, 

But  the  Valley  of  Slaughter ; 

For  they  shall  bury  in  Tophet  till  there  be  no  room  left. 
S3  And  the  dead  bodies  of  this  people  shall  be  for  meat 

To  the  birds  of  the  air  and  to  the  beasts  of  the  earth ; 

And  none  shall  scare  them  away. 
34  And  I  will  cause  to  cease  from  the  cities  of  Judah, 

And  from  the  streets  of  Jerusalem, 

The  voice  of  mirth  and  the  voice  of  gladness, 

The  voice  of  the  bridegroom  and  the  voice  of  the  bride  ; 

For  the  land  shall  be  desolate. 

1  At  that  time,  saith  Jehovah, 

Shall  the  bones  of  the  kings  of  Judah,  and  the  bones  of 

the  princes. 
The  bones  of  the  priests,  and  the  bones  of  the  prophets, 
And  the  bones  of  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem, 
Be  cast  forth  from  their  graves  ; 

2  And  they  shall  be  spread  before  the  sun,  and  the  moon, 

and  all  the  host  of  heaven. 
Which  they  have  loved,  and  which  they  have  served,  and 

after  which  they  have  walked ; 
Which  they  have  consulted  and  have  worshipped ; 
They  shall  not  be  gathered,  nor  be  buried ; 
They  shall  be  as  dung  upon  the  face  of  the  ground. 

3  And  death  shall  be  chosen  rather  than  life 

By  all  the  residue  of  them  tliat  remain  of  this  evil  j  oce, 
Which  remain  in  all  the  places  whither  I  have  drive*  rhem, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

4  Thou  shalt  also  say  to  them.  Thus  saith  Jehova) 
Doth  a  man  fall,  and  not  rise  again  ? 

Doth  one  turn  aside  from  the  way,  and  not  returr: 

5  Why  theft  hath  this  people, 

Why  hath  Jerusalem,  completely  revolted  ? 
They  hold  fast  deceit ; 
They  refuse  to  return. 

6  I  have  listened  and  heard. 


CH.  VIII.]  JEREMIAH.  2B 

But  they  speak  not  aright ; 

No  one  repenteth  of  his  wickedness, 

Saying,  "  What  have  I  done  ?  " 

Every  one  runneth  at  full  speed  in  his  rebellion, 

As  a  horse  rusheth  to  the  battle. 

7  Even  the  stork  in  the  heavens  knoweth  her  times, 

And  the  turtle-dove  and  the  swallow  and  the  crane  observe 

the  season  of  their  coming. 
But  my  people  regard  not  the  laws  of  Jehovah. 

8  How  is  it  that  ye  say,  "  We  are  wise, 
We  possess  the  law  of  Jehovah  "  ? 
Behold,  the  false  pen  of  the  scribes 
Hath  turned  it  into  falsehood. 

9  The  wise  men  shall  be  confounded ; 
They  shall  be  dismayed  and  ensnared ; 
Behold,  they  have  rejected  the  word  of  Jehovah, 
And  what  wisdom  is  there  in  them  ? 

10  Therefore  will  I  give  their  wives  to  others, 
And  their  fields  to  plunderers. 

For  from  the  least  of  them  even  to  the  greatest. 

Every  one  is  greedy  of  gain. 

Prophet  and  priest  alike. 

Every  one  of  them  practiseth  deceit. 

11  They  heal  the  wound  of  my  people  slightly, 
Saying,  Peace  !  peace  !  when  there  is  no  peace. 

12  Are  they  ashamed,  that  they  have  done  abominable  things? 
Nay,  they  are  not  at  all  ashamed  ;- 

They  know  not  how  to  blush. 

Therefore  shall  they  fall  with  them  that  fall ; 

At  the  time  when  I  punish  them, 

They  shall  be  cast  down,  saith  Jehovah. 

13  I  will  utterly  consume  them,  saith  Jehovah ; 
There  shall  be  no  grapes  on  the  vine, 

Nor  shall  there  be  figs  on  the  fig-tree ; 

Even  the  leaf  shall  be  withered  ; 

For  I  will  send  those  that  shall  overrun  them. 

14  "Why  do  we  remain  here?"  [shall  they  say.] 

"  Assemble  yourselves  and  let  us  go  into  the  fortified  cities. 

And  let  us  there  wait  in  silence ! 

For  Jehovah  our  God  hath  put  us  to  silence, 


24  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  IX. 

And  given  us  the  water  of  hemlock  to  drmk, 
Because  we  have  sinned  against  Jehovah. 

15  We  look  for  peace,  but  no  good  cometh ; 

For  a  time  of  deliverance,  and  behold,  terror ! " 

16  From  Dan  is  heard  the  snorting  of  their  horses, 

At  the  sound  of  the  neighing  of  their  steeds  the  whole  land 

trembleth ; 
They  come  and  devour  the  land,  and  all  that  is  in  it ; 
The  city,  and  them  that  dwell  therein. 

17  Behold  I  send  against  you  serpents, 
Basilisks,  which  cannot  be  charmed. 
And  they  shall  bite  you,  saith  Jehovah. 

The  Prophet. 

18  O  where  is  consolation  for  my  sorrow ! 
My  heart  is  faint  within  me. 

19  Behold,  the  cry  of  the  daughter  of  my  people  from  a  far 

country  ! 
*'  Is  not  Jehovah  in  Zion  ? 
Is  her  King  there  no  more  ?  " 

Jehovah. 
Why  then  have  they  provoked  me  by  their  graven  im- 
ages. 
And  their  foreign  vanities  ? 

The  People. 

20  The  harvest  is  passed,  the  summer  is  ended, 
And  we  are  not  delivered. 

The  Prophet. 

21  For  the  wound  of  the  daughter  of  my  people  am  I 

wounded ; 
I  mourn  ;  amazement  hath  taken  hold  of  me. 

22  Is  there  no  balm  in  Gilead  ? 
Is  there  no  physician  there  ? 

Why  then  are  not  the  wounds  of  my  people  healed  ? 
1  O  that  my  head  were  waters, 
And  mine  eyes  a  fountain  of  tears. 
That  I  might  weep  day  and  night 
For  the  slain  of  the  daughter  of  my  people ! 


c».  IX.]  JEREMIAH.  2o 

2       0  that  T  hiul  a  traveller's  lodge  iu  the  wilderness, 

That  I  might  leave  mj  people,  and  go  from  them ! 

For  they  are  all  adulterers  ; 

An  assembly  of  revolters. 
8  They  bend  their  tongues,  like  their  bows,  for  lies, 

And  not  by  truth  do  they  grow  mighty  in  the  earth ; 

They  proceed  from  wickedness  to  wickedness, 

And  have  no  regard  to  me,  saith  Jehovah. 

4  Be  on  your  guard  each  one  against  his  neighbor, 
And  trust  ye  not  in  any  brother ; 

For  every  brother  will  supplant, 
And  every  neighbor  will  slander. 

5  They  deceive  every  one  his  neighbor, 
And  do  not  speak  the  truth ; 

They  have  accustomed  their  tongues  to  speak  lies ; 
They  weary  themselves  in  doing  iniquity. 

6  Thy  habitation  is  in  the  midst  of  deceit,  [0  prophet!] 
Through  deceit  they  refuse  to  know  me,  saith  Jehovah. 

7  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  : 
Behold  I  will  melt  them  and  try  them ; 

For  what  else  can  I  do  on  account  of  the  daughter  of  my 
people  ? 

8  Their  tongue  is  a  deadly  arrow ; 
Every  one  of  them  speaketh  treachery ; 

With  their  mouth  they  speak  peace  to  their  neighbor, 
But  in  their  heart  they  lay  snares  for  him. 

9  Shall  I  not  punish  them  for  these  things  ?  saith  Jehovah ; 
Shall  I  not  be  avenged  on  such  a  nation  as  this  ? 

10       For  the  mountains  will  I  lift  up  a  weeping  and  wailing, 
And  for  the  pastures  of  the  plains  a  lamentation, 
For  they  are  burned  up,  so  that  none  can  pass  through 

them ; 
No  more  is  heard  the  voice  of  the  cattle ; 
Both  the  birds  of  the  heavens  and  the  beasts  have  fled,  and 

are  gone. 
Ill  will  make  Jerusalem  heaps  of  stones, 
The  dwelling-place  of  jackals; 
And  I  will  make  the  cities  of  Judah  desolate,  without  an 

inhabitant, 

VOL.  II,  2 


26  JEREMIAH.  [cH   IX. 

12  Who  is  the  wise  man,  that  he  may  understand  this, 
And  he  to  whom  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath  spoken,  that 

he  may  declare  it? 
Why  is  it  that  the  land  perisheth, 
That  it  is   burned  up  like  a  desert,  which  none  passeth 

through  ? 

13  Jehovah  himself  hath  said  : 

Tt  is  because  they  have  forsaken  my  law, 
Which  I  set  before  them, 
And  have  not  hearkened  to  my  voice, 
Nor  walked  according  to  it ; 

14  But  have  walked  after  the  obstinacy  of  their  own  heart,  • 
And  after  the  -Baals,  as  their  fathers  taught  them. 

15  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel : 
Behokl,  I  will  feed  this  people  with  wormwood, 

And  give  them  water  of  hemlock  to  drink. 

16  I  vvill  also  scatter  them  among  nations 

Which  neither  they  nor  their  fathers  have  known. 
And  I  will  send  after  them  the  sword. 
Till  I  have  made  an  end  of  them. 

17  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  : 

Consider  ye,  and  call  for  the  mourning  women,  that  they 
,  may  come, 

And  send  to  the  skilful  ones,  that  they  may  come ; 

18  Let  them  make  haste,  and  lift  up  a  wailing  for  us. 
That  our  eyes  may  run  down  with  tears. 

And  our  eyelids  gush  forth  with  waters. 

19  Behold,  a  voice  of  wailing  is  heard  from  Zion : 

"  How  are  we  spoiled  !     How  are  we  put  to  shame ! 
We  must  leave  our  native  land ; 
They  have  cast  down  our  habitations." 

20  Hear,  O  ye  women,  the  word  of  Jehovah ! 
Let  your  ear  receive  the  word  of  his  mouth ! 
Teach  your  daughters  a  lamentation, 

And  every  one  her  companion  a  mournful  dirge ! 

21  For  death  cometh  in  through  our  windows. 
It  entereth  our  palaces  ; 

It  cutteth  oflf  the  children  from  the  street. 
And  the  young  men  from  the  pubhc  places. 


CH.  X.]  JEREMIAH.  r  '27 

22  Declare  It,  saith  Jehovah ! 

The  dead  bodies  of  men  shall  fall  as  dung  upon  the  open 

field, 
And  as  the  handful  behind  the  reaper, 
Which  none  gathereth  up. 

23  Thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

Let  not  the  wise  man  glory  in  his  wisdom, 
Nor  let  the  mighty  glory  in  his  might, 
Nor  let  the  rich  glory  in  his  riches ! 

24  But  let  him  that  glorieth  glory  in  this, 
That  he  hath  regard  to  me,  and  knoweth  me, 
That  I  am  Jehovah,  who  exercise  loving-kindness, 
Justice,  and  righteousness  upon  the  earth ; 

For  in  these  do  I  delight,  saith  Jehovah. 

23       Behold  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah, 

That  I  will  punish  all  the  circumcised  with  the  uncircum- 
cised, 
26  Egypt,  and  Judah,  and  Edom, 

And  the  sons  of  Ammon  and  Moab, 

And  all  with  shaven  cheeks,  that  dwell  in  the  wilderness. 

For  all  the  nations  are  uncircumcised, 

And  all  the  house  of  Israel  is  uncircumcised  in  heart. 


The  folly  of  idolatry.  —  Ch.  X.  1  - 16. 

Hear  ye  the  word  which  Jehovah  speaketh  to  you,  O 
house  of  Israel ! 
Thus  saith  Jehovah : 

Conform  ye  not  to  the  way  of  the  heathen, 
And  be  not  dismayed  at  the  signs  of  the  heavens. 
Because  the  heathen  are  dismayed  at  them ! 
The  customs  of  the  nations  are  vanity. 
For  a  tree  of  the  wood  is  cut  down, 
It  is  wrought  by  the  hands  of  the  artificer  with  the  axe, 
It  is  decked  with  silver  and  gold, 
And  with  nails  and  with  hammers  is  it  fastened, 


28  JEREMIAH.  [cn.  X. 

That  it  may  not  totter. 

5  They  are  like  a  turned  palm-tree  pillar,  and  cannot  speak 
They  must  be  borne  by  men,  for  they  cannot  walk. 

Be  not  afraid  of  them,  for  they  cannot  hart, 
Nor'is  it  in  their  power  to  do  good. 

6  There  is  none  like  thee,  O  Jehovah ! 
Thou  art  great. 

And  great  is  thy  name  by  mighty  deeds. 

7  Who  shall  not  fear  thee,  O  king  of  nations, 
For  to  thee  doth  it  belong ! 

For  among  all  the  wise  men  of  the  nations. 

And  in  all  their  kingdoms,  there  is  none  like  thee. 
S  They  are  all  brutish  and  without  understanding; 

A  doctrine  of  vanities  is  the  stock. 
9  Beaten  silver  is  brought  from  Tarshish, 

And  gold  from  Uphaz. 

The  work  of  the  artificer  and  the  founder; 

Blue  and  purple  is  their  clothing ; 

The  work  of  the  skilful  is  it  all. 

10  But  Jehovah  is  the  true  God, 

Ilo  is  the  living  God,  and  an  everlasting  king ; 

At  his  wrath  tlie  earth  trembleth. 

And  the  nations  are  not  able  to  abide  his  indignation. 

11  [Thus  shall  ye  say  to  them: 

The  gods,  that  have  not  made  the  heavens  and  the  earth, 
Shall  perish  from  the  earth  and  from  under  these  heavens.] 

12  He  made  the  earth  by  his  power ; 
He  established  the  world  by  his  wisdom, 

And  by  his  understanding  he  spread  out  the  heavens. 

13  When  he  uttereth  his  voice  there  is  an  abundance  of  wa- 

ter in  the  heavens ; 
He  causeth  clouds  to  ascend  from  the  ends  of  the  earth ; 
He  maketh  lightnings  with  rain ; 
He  bringeth  the  wind  from  his  storehouses. 

14  Brutish  is  every  one  who  hath  not  this  knowledge ; 
By  his  image  is  every  founder  put  to  shame, 

For  his  molten-work  is  deceit ; 
There  is  no  breath  in  it. 

15  They  are  vanity,  deceptive  work ; 

In  the  time  of  their  punishment  shall  they  perish. 


Cii.  X.]  JEREMIAH.  29 

18  Not  like  them  is  He  who  is  tlie  portion  of  Jacob; 
He  is  the  former  of  all  things, 
Aud  Israel  is  his  allotted  inheritance ; 
Jehovah  of  hosts  is  his  name. 


VI. 

The  destruction  of  Jerusalem  threatened.  —  Ch.  X.  17  -  25. 

17       Gather  up  thy  goods  out  of  the  land, 

0  inhabitant  of  the  fortress  ! 
IS  For  thus  saith  Jehovah: 

Behold,  I  will  t«ling  forth  the  inhabitants  of  the  land  at 
this  time ; 

1  will  distress  them,  so  that  they  shall  be  taken. 

19  "  Ah  me  !  my  wound  !  "  [saith  the  daughter  of  Zion ;] 
"  My  bruise  is  deadly  ; 

Yet  I  say,  This  is  my  affliction,  and  I  must  bear  it ! 

20  My  tent  is  torn  down, 
And  all  my  cords  broken. 

My  children  are  gone  forth  from  me,  and  are  no  more ; 
There  is  none  to  stretch  forth  my  tent  any  more, 
Or  to  set  up  my  curtains. 

21  For  the  shepherds  have  become  brutish ; 
They  have  not  sought  Jehovah  ; 
Therefore  have  they  not  prospered. 
And  all  their  flock  is  dispersed." 

22  [Hark  !]  the  sound  of  tidings  !     Behold  it  cometh, 
And  a  great  tumult  from  the  land  of  the  North, 
To  make  the  cities  of  Judah  desolate, 

A  dwelling-place  for  jackals. 

23  "  I  know,  O  Jehovah,  that  the  way  of  a  man  is  not 

within  his  power, 
That  it  is  not  within  the  power  of  a  man  that  walketh  to 
establish  his  steps. 

24  Chasten  me,  0  Jehovah,  but  in  measure ; 

Not  in  thine  anger,  lest  thou  bring  me  to  nothing! 

25  Pour  out  thy  wrath  on  the  nations  which  acknowledge  the© 

not, 


so  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XI. 

And  on  the  kingdoms  which  call  not  on  thy  name ! 

For  they  have  devoured  Jacob ; 

They  have  devoured  and  consumed  him, 

And  laid  waste  his  dwelUng-place." 


vn. 

Punishment  threatened  for  idolatry.  —  Ch.  XI.  1  - 17. 

1  The  word  which  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah,  say- 

ing:— 

2  Hear  ye  the  words  of  this  covenant, 
And  speak  ye  to  the  men  of  Judah, 
And  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem. 

3  And  say  thou  to  them, 

Thus  saith  .Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel : 
Cursed  is  the  man  who  will  not  obey  the  words  of  this 
covenant, 

4  Which  I  commanded  your  fathers, 

When  I  brought  them  forth  from  the  land  of  Egypt, 

From  the  iron  furnace,  saying, 

*'  Obey  ye  my  voice. 

And  do  all  which  I  command  you ; 

So  shall  ye  be  my  people, 

And  I  will  be  your  God  ; 

5  So  that  I  may  perform  the  oath. 
Which  I  made  to  your  fathers, 

To  give  them  a  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey,  as  it  is 

this  day." 
Then  answered  T,  and  said. 
So  may  it  be,  0  Jehovah ! 

6  Then  said  Jehovah  to  me. 

Proclaim  all  these  words  in  the  cities  of  Judah, 

And  the  streets  of  Jerusalem,  saying: 

Hear  ye  the  words  of  this  covenant,  and  do  them ! 

7  For  I  have  earnestly  admonished  your  fathers. 

From  the  time  when  I  brought  them  up  from  the  land  of 
Egypt  to  this  day. 


CH.  XI. 


JEREMIAH.  31 


Rising  early  and  admonishing  them,  saying, 
"  Obey  ye  my  voice  !  " 

8  Yet  they  obeyed  not,  nor  inclined  their  ear. 

But  walked  every  one  in  the  obstinacy  of  his  evil  heart ; 
Therefore  have  I  brought  upon  them  all  the  words  of  this 

covenant. 
Which  I  commanded  them  to  obey, 
And  they  obeyed  not. 

9  Jehovah  also  said  to  me : 

A  conspiracy  hath  been  found  among  the  men  of  Judah, 
And  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem. 

10  They  turn  back  to  the  iniquities  of  their  forefathers, 
Who  refused  to  hearken  to  my  words  ; 

They  go  after  strange  gods  and  serve  them ; 

The  house  of  Israel  and  the  house  of  Judah  have  brokea 

the  covenant 
Which  I  made  with  their  fathers. 

11  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  : 
Behold  I  bring  upon  them  a  calamity. 
From  which  they  shall  not  be  able  to  escape ; 
And  though  they  cry  to  me,  I  will  not  hear  them. 

12  Then  may  the  cities  of  Judah  and  the  inhabitants  of  Jeru- 

salem go, 
And  cry  to  the  gods  to  whom  they  burn  incense ; 
But  they  shall  not  save  them  at  all  in  the  time  of  their 
calamity. 

13  For  according  to  the  number  of  thy  cities  are  thy  gods,  O 

Judah ! 
According  to  the  number  of  the  streets  of  Jerusalem  have 

ye  set  up  altars  to  a  thing  of  shame, 
Altars  for  burning  incense  to  Baal. 

14  Therefore  pray  not  thou  for  this  people, 
Nor  lift  up  a  cry  or  a  prayer  for  them ; 
For  I  will  not  hear  when  they  cry  to  me 
On  account  of  their  calamity. 

15  What  hath  my  beloved  to  do  in  my  house, 
While  many  pollute  it  with  wickedness  ? 
The  holy  flesh  shall  pass  away  from  thee. 
For  wlien  thou  doest  evil,  thou  rejoicest. 

16  Jehovah  hath  called  thee  an  olive-tree, 


32  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XI. 

Green,  fair,  and  of  goodly  fruit ; 

With  the  noise  of  a  great  crackling  doth  he  kindle  a  fire 

upon  it, 
And  the  branches  of  it  shall  be  broken. 
17  For  Jehovah  of  hosts,  who  planted  thee, 
Hath  pronounced  evil  against  thee. 
On  account  of  the  wickedness  of  the  house  of  Israel  and 

of  Judah,  which  they  have  committed 
In  provoking  me  to  anger  by  burning  incense  to  Baal. 


vin. 

Machinations  against  Jeremiah,  and  their  punishment.  —  Ch.  XL  18 
—  XII.  13. 

18  Jehovah  made  it  known  to  me,  and  I  knew  it ; 
Thou  didst  show  me  their  machinations  ! 

19  For  I  was  like  a  tame  lamb,  that  is  led  to  the  slaughter, 
And  knew  not  that  they  had  formed  plots  against  me, 

[saying,] 
"  Let  us  destroy  the  tree  with  its  fruit. 
Let  us  cut  him  off  from  the  land  of  the  living. 
That  his  name  may  no  more  be  remembered  ! " 

20  But,  O  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  righteous  judge, 
Who  triest  the  reins  and  the  heart, 

I  shall  see  thy  vengeance  on  them, 
For  to  thee  have  I  revealed  my  cause ! 

21  Therefore  thus  salth  Jehovah  against  the  men  of  Ana 

tlioth. 
Who  seek  thy  life,  and  say, 
'••  Prophecy  not  in  the  name  of  Jehovah, 
Lest  thou  die  by  our  hand  !  " 

22  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts : 
Behold,  I  will  punish  them ; 

Their  young  men  shall  die  by  the  sword ; 

Their  sons  and  their  daughters  shall  die  by  famine , 

23  There  shall  be  none  of  them  left ; 

For  I  will  bring  evil  upon  the  men  of  Anathoth, 
At  the  time  of  their  punishment. 


CH.  XII.]  JEREMIAH.  33 

1  Righteous  art  thou,  0  Jehovah,  when  I  coutend  with 

thee, 
Yet  will  I  enter  into  controversy  with  thee. 
Why  doth  the  way  of  the  wicked  prosper  ? 
Why  are  all  the  men  of  treachery  at  ease  ? 

2  Thou  hast  planted  them ;  yea,  they  have  taken  root ; 
They  grow,  yea,  they  bring  forth  fruit ; 

Thou  art  near  to  their  mouth. 
But  far  from  their  hearts. 

3  But  thou,  O  Jehovah,  knovvest  me ; 
Thou  hast  seen  me,  and  tried  my  heart, 
Whether  it  be  devoted  to  thee. 

Tear  them  away,  as  sheep  for  slaughter ; 
Separate  them  for  the  day  of  slaughter ! 

4  How  long  shall  the  land  mourn, 
And  the  grass  of  every  field  wither  ? 

For  the  wickedness  of  them  that  dwell  therein, 

The  beasts  are  consumed,  and  the  birds  ; 

For  they  say,  "  He  will  not  see  our  latter  end." 

Answer  of  Jehovah. 

5  If  thou  hast  run  with  footmen,  and  they  have  wearied 

thee. 
Then  how  canst  thou  contend  with  horses? 
If  it  be  so  with  thee  in  a  land  of  peace,  in  which  thou  art 

secure, 
What  wilt  thou  do  in  the  glory  of  Jordan  ? 

6  For  even  thy  brethren  and  the  house  of  thy  father, 
Even  these  are  treacherous  toward  thee. 

And  raise  a  full  cry  after  thee  ; 

Trust  them  not,  though  they  speak  fair  words  to  thee ! 

7  I  have  forsaken  my  house, 

I  have  abandoned  ray  inheritance, 

I  have  given  the  darling  of  my  soul  into  the  hand  of  hei 
enemies. 

8  My  inheritance  is  become  to  me  like  a  lion  of  the  forest; 
She  lifteth  up  her  voice  against  me ; 

Therefore  do  I  hate  her. 

9  A  rapacious  beast,  an  hyena,  is  my  inheiitance  become  to 

me; 
Therefore  shall  the  rapacious  beasts  rush  upon  her  on  all 
sides. 


34  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XII. 

Come,  gather  all  the  beasts  of  the  field, 
Bring  them  to  devour ! 

10  Many  shepherds  have  destroyed  my  vineyard ; 
They  have  trodden  my  portion  under  foot ; 

My  pleasant  portion  have  they  made  a  desolate  wilderness. 

11  They  have  made  it  a  desolation ; 
Desolate  it  mourneth  on  account  of  me ; 
The  whole  land  is  desolate, 

Because  no  man  layeth  my  word  to  heart. 

12  Upon  all  the  high  places  in  the  desert  do  the  plunderers 

come ; 
Behold,  the  sword  of  Jehovah  devoureth  from  one  end  of 

the  land  to  the  other ; 
No  man  hath  peace. 

13  They  sow  wheat,  but  they  reap  thorns ; 
They  weary  themselves,  and  are  not  profited ; 
They  shall  be  ashamed  of  their  harvest, 
Because  of  the  fierce  anger  of  Jehovah. 


IX. 

Promises  and  threutenings  to  the  nations  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Jews.  — 
Ch.  XII.  14-17. 

14  Thus  saith  Jehovah  against  all  my  evil  neighbors. 
Who  seize  the  inheritance  which  I  gave  my  people,  Israel 
Behold,  I  will  pluck  them  out  of  their  land. 

And  the  house  of  Judah  will  I  pluck  out  from  among  them. 

15  Yet  after  I  have  plucked  them  out  of  their  land, 

I  will  again  have  compassion  on  them,  and  bring  them 

back. 
Every  one  to  his  own  possession, 
And  every  one  to  his  own  land. 

16  And  if  they  will  indeed  learn  the  ways  of  my  people, 
And  swear  by  my  name,  saying,  As  Jehovah  liveth ! 
As  they  taught  my  people  to  swear  by  Baal, 

Then  shall  they  be  built  up  in  the  midst  of  my  people ; 

17  But  if  they  will  not  hearken, 

I  will  utterly  pluck  up  and  destroy  that  nation,  saith  Jeho- 
vah. 


CH.  Xlll.]  JEREMIAH.  35 

X. 

The  captivity  of  Judah  threatened.  —  Ch.  XIII. 

1  Thus  saith  Jehovah  to  me:  Go  and  get  thee  a  linen 
girdle,  and  put  it  on  thy  loins,  and  put  it  not  into  water ! 

2  So  I  got  a  girdle  according  to  the  word  of  Jehovah,  and 

3  put  it  on  mj^  loins.     Then  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to 

4  me  the  second  time,  saying,  Take  the  girdle  wliich  tliou 
hast  gotten,  which  is  upon  thy  loins,  and  arise,  go  to  the 

5  Euphrates,  and  hide  it  there  in  a  hole  of  the  rock.  So  I 
went  and  hid  it  near  the  Euphrates,  as  Jehovah  commanded 

6  me.  And  after  many  days  Jehovah  said  to  me,  Arise,  go 
to  the  Euphrates,  and  take  thence  the  girdle  which  I  com- 

7  manded  thee  to  hide  there.  Then  I  went  to  the  Euphrates, 
and  digged,  and  took  the  girdle  from  the  place  where  I 
had  hidden  it;  and,  behold,  the  girdle  was  marred,  so  that 

8  it  was  good  for  nothing.  Then  the  word  of  Jehovah  came 
to  me,  saying :  ■ — 

9  Thus  saith  Jehovah : 

After  this  manner  will  I  mar  the  pride  of  Judah, 
And  the  great  pride  of  Jerusalem. 

10  This  evil  people, 

Who  refuse  to  hearken  to  my  words, 

Who  walk  after  the  obstinacy  of  their  heart, 

And  walk  after  straYige  gods, 

To  serve  them  and  to  worship  them, 

Shall  be  like  this  girdle, 

Which  is  good  for  nothing. 

1 1  For  as  a  girdle  cleaveth  to  the  loins  of  a  man, 

So  have  I  caused  to  cleave  to  me  the  whole  house  of  Israel, 
And  the  whole  house  of  Judah,  saith  Jehovah, 
That  they  might  be  to  me  a  people. 
And  a  name,  and  a  praise,  and  a  glory ; 
But  they  hearkened  not  to  me. 

12  Then  shalt  thou  speak  to  them  in  this  manner. 
Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel : 

Every  flagon  shall  be  filled  with  wine. 
And  they  will  say  to  thee, 


36  JEREMIAH.  "  [CH.  xiii. 

"  Do  we  not  know  that  every  flagon  shall  be  filled  with 
wine  ?  " 

13  Then  shalt  thou  say  to  them, 
Thus  saith  Jehovah : 

Behold,  I  will  fill  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  land, 

And  the  kings  that  sit  upon  David's  throne, 

And  the  priests,  and  the  prophets. 

And  all  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  with  drunkenness. 

14  And  I  will  dash  them  one  against  another, 

Even  firthers  and  children  together,  saith  Jehovah ; 

I  will  not  pity,  nor  spare, 

Nor  show  mercy,  so  as  not  to  destroy  them. 

15  Hear  ye,  and  attend  !  be  not  lifted  up  ! 
For  Jehovah  speaketh. 

16  Give  glory  to  Jehovah,  your  God, 
Before  he  bring  darkness. 

And  your  feet  stumble  upon  the  dark  mountains, 
And,  while  ye  look  for  light, 
He  turn  it  into  deathlike  shade, 
And  make  it  gross  darkness. 

17  But  if  ye  will  not  hear, 

I  will  mourn  in  secret  places  for  your  pride, 
I  will  weep  continually. 
And  my  eyes  shall  run  down  with  tears, 
Because  the  flock  of  Jehovah  is  carried  away  captive. 
IS  Say  to  the  king  and  to  the  queen. 
Sit  ye  down  upon  the  ground, 
For  your  beautiful  crown  shall  fall  from  your  heads. 

19  The  cities  of  the  South  are  shut  uj),  and  none  openeth  them ; 
Judidi  is  carried  away  captive,  all  of  it. 

Every  man  of  it  is  carried  away  captive. 

20  Lift  up  your  eyes,  and  behold  them  that  come  from  the 

North ! 
Where  is  the  flock  that  was  given  thee,  thy  beautiful  flock? 

21  What  wilt  thou  say  when  he  shall  punish  thee? 

For  thou  thyself  hast  taught  them  to  be  lords  over  thee. 
Shall  not  sorrows  seize  thee,  as  a  woman  in  travail? 

22  And  if  thou  say  in  thine  heart, 

"  Wherefore  are  these  things  coming  upon  me?" 

For  the  greatness  of  thy  iniquity  are  thy  skirts  uncovered, 

And  tliy  heels  made  bare. 


CH.  XIV.]  JEREMIAH.  37 

23  Can  the  Ethiopian  change  his  skin, 
Or  the  leopard  his  spots  ? 

Then  may  ye  also  do  good, 

Who  have  been  accustomed  to  do  evil. 

24  Therefore  will  I  scatter  you  like  stubble, 

Which  passeth  away  before  the  wind  of  the  desert. 

25  This  is  thy  lot, 

The  portion  measured  out  for  thee  by  me,  salth  Jehovah, 
Because  thou  hast  forgotten  me,  and  trusted  in  falsehood. 

26  Therefore  will  I  lift  up  thy  skirts  over  thy  head. 
So  that  thy  shame  shall  be  seen. 

27  Thine  adulteries,  thy  neighings, 

The  lewdness  of  thy  whoredom  on  the  hills,  in  the  fields, 

All  thy  abominations,  have  I  seen. 

Woe  to  thee,  0  Jerusalem  ! 

How  long  ere  thou  wilt  become  pure ! 


XI. 

Puuishmeutby  drought,  and  other  calamities.     The  prophet  encouraged.  — 
Ch.  XIV.,  XV. 

1  The  word  of  Jehovah,  which  came  to  Jeremiah  con- 

cerning a  drought. 

2  Judah  mourneth. 

And  the  gates  thereof  languish  ; 
They  are  in  deep  mourning  upon  the  ground. 
And  the  cry  of  Jerusalem  goeth  up. 
.3  The  nobles  send  their  younger  ones  for  water; 
They  come  to  the  wells,  they  find  none ; 
They  return  with  their  vessels  empty ; 
They  are  ashamed  and  confounded; 
They  cover  their  heads. 

4  Because  of  the  ground,  which  is  in  consternation, 
No  rain  falling  upon  the  earth, 

The  husbandmen  are  ashamed, 
They  hide  their  heads. 

5  Even  tlie  hind  in  the  field  is  delivered, 
And  deserteth  her  young, 


38  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XIV. 

Because  there  is  no  grass. 

6  The  wild  asses  stand  upon  the  hills, 
They  suufF  up  the  wind  like  jackals ; 
Their  eyes  fail, 

Because  there  is  no  grass. 

7  Though  our  iniquities  testify  against  us, 

Yet  do  thou,  0  Jehovah,  act  from  a  regard  to  thine  own 

name. 
For  our  transgressions  have  been  many ; 
We  have  sinned  against  thee. 

8  O  thou  hope  of  Israel, 

His  saviour  in  the  time  of  trouble, 

Wliy  wilt  thou  be  as  a  stranger  in  the  land, 

As  a  traveller  who  spreadeth  his  tent  to  pass  the  night? 

9  Why  wilt  thou  be  as  a  man  that  is  amazed, 
As  a  hero  that  cannot  save  ? 

Thou  art  in  the  midst  of  us,  0  Jehovah, 
And  we  are  called  by  thy  name ; 
Do  not  forsake  us ! 

Jeliovah. 

10  Thus  saith  Jehovah  concerning  this  people : 
Thus  they  love  to  wander, 

They  restrain  not  their  feet ; 
Therefore  Jehovah  doth  not  accept  them ; 
Now  will  he  remember  their  iniquities, 
And  punish  their  sins. 

1 1  Then  said  Jehovah  to  me  : 

Pray  not  for  this  people  for  their  good ! 

12  Though  they  fast,  I  will  not  hear  their  cry 
Thou<'-li  they  offer  burnt-offerings  and  flour-offerings, 
I  will  not  accept  them  ; 

But  by  the  sword,  and  by  famine,  and  by  pestilence, 
I  will  make  an  end  of  them. 

The  Prophet. 

13  Then  said  I,  Alas !  O  Lord  Jehovah ! 
Behold,  the  prophets  say  to  them, 

"  Ye  shall  not  see  the  sword. 

Nor  shall  famine  come  upon  you ; 

But  Jehovah  will  give  you  lasting  peace  in  this  place." 


CH.  XIV.]  JEREMIAH.  39 

Jehovah. 

14  Then  said  Jehovah  to  me  : 

The  prophets  prophesy  lies  in  my  name ; 

I  have  not  sent  them,  nor  commissioned  them,  nor  spoken 

to  them  ; 
A  false  vision,  and  divination,  and  vanity. 
And  the  fraud  of  their  hearts,  do  they  prophesy  to  you. 

15  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  concerning  the  prophets 
Who  prophesy  in  my  name,  though  I  sent  them  not, 

But  who  themselves  say,  "The  sword  and  famine  shall 
not  be  in  this  land  "  : 

By  the  sword  and  by  famine  shall  those  prophets  be  con- 
sumed. 

16  And  the  people  to  whom  they  prophesy 
Shall  be  cast  forth  in  the  streets  of  Jerusalem 
By  means  of  femine  and  the  sword  ; 

And  they  shall  have  none  to  bury  them,  — 

They,  their  wives,  and  their  sons,  and  their  daughters ; 

For  I  will  pour  their  wickedness  upon  them. 

17  Thus  also  shalt  thou  speak  to  them : 

My  eyes  shall  run  down  with  tears  night  and  day ; 

They  shall  not  cease  ; 

For  a  deep  wound  hath  she  received, 

The  virgin  daughter  of  my  people, 

A  deadly  blow. 

18  If  I  go  forth  into  the  fields. 

Then  behold  them  that  are  slain  by  the  sword ! 
And  if  I  enter  the  city. 
Then  behold  them  that  pine  with  famine ! 
Both  propliet  and  priest  wander  about  the  land,  they  know 
not  whither. 

19  Hast  thou  utterly  rejected  Judah  ? 
Doth  thy  soul  abhor  Zion? 

Why  hast  thou  smitten  us,  so  that  there  is  no  healing  for  us  ? 
We  look  for  peace,  and  there  is  no  good. 
For  a  time  of  healing,  and  behold,  terror ! 

20  We  acknowledge,  O  Jehovah,  our  wickedness. 
And  the  iniquity  of  our  fathers  ; 

For  we  have  sinned  against  thee. 

21  Do  not  spurn  us,  for  thy  name's  sake ! 


40  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XV. 

Do  not  dishonor  thy  glorious  throne ! 
Call  to  mind,  break  not,  thy  covenant  with  us ! 
22  Are  there  among  the  vanities  of  the  nations  any  that  can 
cause  rain  ? 
Or  can  the  heavens  give  showers  ? 
Art  not  thou  he,  O  Jehovah,  our  God  ? 
Therefore  in  thee  will  we  trust. 
For  thou  hast  made  all  these  things ! 

1  Then  said  Jehovah  to  me  : 

Though  Moses  and  Samuel  should  stand  before  me, 
Yet  would  I  not  be  reconciled  to  this  people. 
Send  them  out  of  my  sight,  and  let  them  go  forth  ! 

2  And  if  they  say  to  thee,  "  Whither  shall  we  go  forth  ?  " 
Then  say  thou  to  them,  Thus  saith  Jehovah : 

They  that  are  for  the  pestilence,  to  the  pestilence, 
And  they  that  are  for  the  sword,  to  the  sword. 
And  they  that  .are  for  famine,  to  famine. 
And  they  tliat  are  for  captivity,  to  captivity. 
8  I  will  commission  against  them  four  woes,  saith  Jehovah ; 
The  sword  to  slay, 
And  the  dogs  to  drag  about, 

And  the  birds  of  heaven,  and  the  beasts  of  the  earth, 
To  devour  and  destroy. 

4  I  will  cause  them  to  be  harassed  in  all  the  kingdoms  of 

the  earth, 
On  account  of  Manasseh,  the  son  of  Hezekiah,  king  of  Ju- 

dah, 
On  account  of  all  which  he  did  in  Jerusalem. 

5  For  who  will  have  pity  on  thee,  0  Jerusalem  ? 
Or  who  condole  with  thee  ? 

Or  who  turn  aside  to  ask  thee  of  thy  welfare? 

6  Thou  hast  forsaken  me,  saith  Jehovah; 
Thou  hast  gone  backward ; 

Therefore  will  I  stretch  out  my  hand  against  thee,  and  de- 
stroy thee ; 
I  am  weary  of  relenting. 

7  1  will  scatter  them  wuth  a  winnowing-fan  through  the  gates 

of  the  land  ; 
I  will  bereave  them  of  their  sons ; 
I  will  destroy  my  people, 


CH.  xv^.]  JEREMIAH.  41 

Since  they  return  not  from  their  ways. 

8  Their  widows  shall  be  more  numerous  than  the  sand  of 

the  sea ; 
Against  the  mother  of  the  young  men  do  I  bring  a  spoiler 

at  noonday ; 
Suddenly  will  I  bring  alarm  and  terrors  upon  thein. 

9  She,  that  hath  borne  seven,  languisheth ; 
She  is  ready  to  expire ; 

Her  sun  goeth  down  while  it  is  yet  day ; 
She  is  ashamed  and  confounded. 
Their  remnant  will  I  also  give  to  the  sword 
Before  their  enemies,  saith  Jehovah. 

10  Alas  for  me,  my  mother,  that  thou  hast  borne  me, 
To  live  in  strife  and  contention  with  all  the  land ! 

I  have  neither  borrowed  nor  lent  money, 
Yet  doth  every  one  curse  me ! 

1 1  Jehovah  said  : 

Surely  I  will  deliver  and  prosper  thee, 

Surely,  in  the  time  of  trouble  and  in  the  time  of  distress, 

Will  I  cause  the  advert^ary  to  be  a  suppliant  to  thee. 

12  Who  is  able  to  break  iron. 
Iron  from  the  North,  and  brass  ? 

13  Thy  substance  and  thy  treasures  will  I  give  for  spoil,  with- 

out price, 
On  account  of  all  thy  sins  in  all  thy  borders. 

14  I  will  cause  them  to  pass  with  thy  enemies  into  a  land 

which  thou  knowest  not ; 
For  a  fire  is  kindled  in  my  anger,  which  shall  burn  against 
you. 

15  Thou,  0  Jehovah,  knowest  all  my  concerns ! 
O  remember  me,  and  have  regard  to  me, 
And  revenge  me  of  my  persecutors  ! 

Do  not,  through  thy  long-suffering,  take  me  away  ! 
Consider  that  for  t!iy  sake  I  have  suffered  rebuke ! 

16  As  soon  as  I  found  thy  words,  I  devoured  them  ; 

For  thy  words  'were  the  joy  and  rejoicing  of  my  heart ; 
For  I  am  called  by  thy  name, 
O  Jehovah,  God  of  hosts  ! 

17  I  have  not  sat  in  the  assembly  of  them  that  made  merry, 

nor  rejoiced ; 


42  JEREMIAH.  [oh.  XVI. 

On  account  of  thy  hand  I  have  sat  alone ;     ■ 
For  thou  hast  filled  me  with  indignation. 
IS  Why  is  my  pain  perpetual, 

And  my  wound  mortal,  refusing  to  be  healed  ? 
Thou  hast  been  to  me  like  a  deceitful  stream; 
Like  waters  that  fail. 

19  Then  answered  Jehovah  thus  : 

If  thou  wilt  return,  then  will  I  restore  thee,  and  thou  shalt 

stand  before  me ; 
And  if  thou  wilt  separate  the  precious  from  the  vile, 
Thou  shalt  be  as  ray  mouth. 
They  shall  turn  to  thee. 
And  thou  shalt  not  turn  to  them. 

20  I  will  make  thee  against  this  people  a  strong  wall  of  brass ; 
When  they  war  against  thee,  they  shall  not  prevail  against 

thee. 
For  I  will  be  with  thee  to  save  thee. 
And  to  deliver  thee,  saith  Jehovah. 

21  I  will  rescue  thee  from  the  hand  of  the  wicked, 

And  I  will  redeem  thee  from  the  grasp  of  the  violent. 


XII. 

Captivity  of  the  Jewish  people  threatened.  —  Ch.  XVI.  1  —  XVII.  18. 

1  The  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying: 

2  Take  thee  not  a  wife  ; 

Have  no  sons  or  daughters  in  this  place ! 
.3  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  concerning  the  sons  and  the  daugh- 
ters 

That  are  born  in  this  place. 

And  concerning  their  mothers  that  bore  them, 

And  concerning  their  fathers  that  begat  them  in  this  land ; 
4  By  deadly  diseases  shall  they  die ; 

They  shall  not  be  lamented  nor  buried ; 

They  shall  become  dung  upon  the  fare  of  the  earth; 

By  the  sword  also  and  by  famine  shall  they  be  consumed, 

And  their  carcasses  shall  be  food  for  the  birds  of  heaven 

And  the  beasts  of  the  earth. 


CH.  XVI.] 


JEREMIAH.  43 


5  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

Enter  not  into  the  house  of  wailing ; 

Go  not  to  lament ; 

Comfort  them  not ! 

For  I  have  taken  away  my  peace  from  this  people,  saith 

Jehovah, 
My  kindne.>is  and  mercy. 

6  The  great  and  the  small  in  this  land  shall  die ; 
They  shall  not  be  buried  nor  lamented ; 

No  one  shall  cut  himself  for  them, 

Nor  shall  any  one  make  himself  bald  for  them. 

7  Men  shall  not  break  bread  for  them  in  their  grief, 
To  comfort  them  for  the  dead. 

Nor  give  them  the  cup  of  consolation  to  drink. 
On  account  of  a  lost  father  or  mother. 

8  Neither  enter  thou  into  the  house  of  feasting, 
To  sit  down  with  them  to  eat  and  to  drink  ! 

9  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel : 
Behold,  I  am  about  to  cause  to  cease  from  this  place. 
Before  your  eyes,  in  your  days. 

The  voice  of  joy  and  the  voice  of  mirth. 

The  voice  of  the  bridegroom  and  the  voice  of  the  bride. 

10  And  when  thou  shalt  have  declared  to  this  people  all 
these  things,  and  they  shall  say  to  thee,  "  Why  hath  Jeho- 
vah pronounced  against  us  all  this  great  evil  ?  What  is 
our  iniquity,  and  what  our  sin,  which  we  have  committed 

11  against  Jehovah  our  God  ?  "    Then  shalt  thou  say  to  them : 

Because  your  fathers  have  forsaken  me,  saith  Jehovah, 
And  have  walked  after  strange  gods. 
And  have  served  them  and  worshipped  them, 
And  have  forsaken  me,  and  not  kept  my  law. 

12  And  ye  yourselves  have  done  worse  than  your  fathers ; 
For,  behold,  ye  walk  every  one  after  the  perverseness  of 

his  evil  heart, 
And  do  not  hearken  to  me. 

13  Therefore  will  I  cast  you  forth  from  this  land 
Into  a  land  unknown  to  you  and  to  your  fathers ; 
And  there  shall  ye  serve  strange  gods  day  and  night ; 
For  I  will  show  you  no  favor. 


44  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XVII. 

14  Yet  behold  the  days  shall  come,  saith  Jehovah, 
When  men  shall  no  more  say,  "  As  Jehovah  liveth 

Who  brought  up  the  children  of  Israel  from  the  land  of 
Egypt," 

15  But,  "As  Jehovah  liveth 

Who  brought  up  the  children  of  Israel  from  the  land  of  the 

North, 
And  from  all  the  lands  whither  he  had  driven  them." 
For  I  will  bring  them  again  into  their  own  land, 
Which  I  gave  to  their  fathers. 

lb       Behold,  I  will  send  many  fishers,  saith  Jehovah,  who 
shall  fish  them, 
And  then  will  I  send  many  hunters  who  shall  hunt  them 
From  every  mountain,  and  from  every  hill,  and  from  the 
holes  of  the  rocks. 

17  For  mine  eyes  are  upon  all  their  ways ; 
They  are  not  concealed  from  ray  view. 
Nor  is  their  iniquity  hidden  from  mine  eyes. 

18  And  I  will  requite  their  former  and  their  repeated  iniqui- 

ties and  sins. 
Because  they  have  polluted  my  land  with  carcasses  offered 

to  their  idols, 
'And  filled  my  inheritance  with  their  abominable  things. 

19  O  Jehovah,  my  strength  and  my  fortress, 
My  refuge  in  the  day  of  distress ! 

To  thee  shall  the  nations  come  from  the  ends  of  the  earth, 
And  shall  say,  "  Truly  our  fathers  inherited  delusion, 
Vain  and  unprofitable  things. 

20  Shall  one  make  for  himself  gods 
Which  are  no  gods  ?  " 

21  Therefore,  behold,  I  will  this  time  cause  them  to  feel, 
I  will  cause  them  to  feel  my  hand  and  my  might, 
And  they  shall  know  that  my  name  is  Jehovah. 

1  The  sin  of  Judah  is  written  with  a  pen  of  iron, 
.  With  the  point  of  a  diamond  is  it  engraved 

Upon  the  tablet  of  their  hearts, 
Upon  the  horns  of  their  altars. 

2  While  their  children  remember  the  altars,  and  the  images 

of  Astarte, 


CH.  XYii.]  JEREMIAH.  45 

Near  the  green  trees, 
And  upon  the  high  hills. 

3  My  mountain  in  the  field  !  thy  substance  and  all  thy  treas- 

ures will  I  give  up  for  spoil ; 
Thy  high  places  for  sin  in  all  thy  borders. 

4  Thou  shalt  of  thyself  cease  to  possess  the  inheritance  which 

I  gave  thee, 
And  I  will  cause  thee  to  serve  thy  enemies  in  a  land  which 

thou  knowest  not ; 
For  ye  have  kindled  a  fire  in  my  anger, 
Which  shall  burn  forever. 

5  Thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

Cursed  be  the  man  who  trusteth  in  man, 

And  maketh  flesh  his  arm, 

And  whose  heart  departeth  from  Jehovah ! 

6  He  shall  be  like  a  poor  wanderer  in  the  desert. 
Who  seeth  not  when  good  cometh, 

But  dwelleth  in  the  parched  places  of  the  desert, 
In  a  salt  land,  and  uninhabited. 

7  Blessed  is  the  man  who  trusteth  in  Jehovah ; 
Who  in  Jehovah  placeth  his  hope ! 

8  He  shall  be  like  a  tree  planted  by  the  water-side, 
That  spreadeth  out  her  roots  by  the  stream. 
That  feeleth  not  when  the  heat  cometh, 

But  whose  leaf  is  green  ; 

That  careth  not  in  the  year  of  drought. 

Nor  ceaseth  from  yielding  fruit. 

9  The  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things ; 
Yea,  it  is  corrupt ;  who  can  know  it  ? 

10  I,  Jehovah,  search  the  heart, 
And  try  the  reins. 

To  give  to  every  man  according  to  his  ways, 
And  according  to  the  fruit  of  his  doings. 

11  As  the  partridge  sitteth  on  eggs  which  she  hath  not  laid, 
So  is  he  that  getteth  riches,  and  not  by  right ; 

In  the  midst  of  his  days  shall  he  leave  them, 
And  in  his  latter  end  find  himself  a  fool. 

12  A  glorious,  lofty  throne  from  the  beginning 


46  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  ?:vii. 

Hath  been  the  place  of  our  sanctuary. 

13  O  thou  hope  of  Israel,  Jehovah ! 

All  that  forsake  thee  shall  be  put  to  shame ; 
Yea,  all  that  depart  from  me  shall  be  written  in  dust, 
Because  they  have  forsaken  the  fountain  of  living  water, 
they  have  forsaken  Jehovah. 

14  Heal  me,  O  Jehovah,  and  I  shall  be  healed ; 
Save  me,  and  I  shall  be  saved ; 

For  thou  art  my  praise ! 

15  Behold,  they  say  to  me,  "  Where  is  the  word  of  Jehovah  ? 
Let  it  come  to  pass  ! " 

16  I  have  not  refused  to  follow  thee,  as  thy  shepherd, 
Neither  have  I  desired  the  day  of  woe,  as  thou  knowest ! 
That  which  came  from  my  lips  hath  been  before  thine  eyes. 

17  Be  not  thou  a  terror  to  me. 

Thou,  my  refuge  in  the  day  of  distress  ! 
Let  my  persecutors  be  confounded,  but  let  not  me  be  con- 
founded ! 

18  Let  them  be  dismayed,  but  let  not  me  be  dismayed ! 
Bring  upon  them  the  day  of  calamity, 

And  destroy  them  with  double  destruction ! 


xm. 

Agaiust  the  desecration  of  the  Sabbath.  — Ch.  XVII.  19-27. 

19  Thus  said  Jehovah  to  me : 

Go  and  stand  in  the  people's  gate, 

Through  which  the  kings  of  Judah  come  in  and  go  out, 

And  in  all  the  gates  of  Jerusalem, 

20  And  say  to  them, 

Hear  the  word  of  Jehovah,  ye  kings  of  Judah, 
All  Judah,  and  all  ye  who  dwell  at  Jerusalem, 
Who  enter  in  through  these  gates  ! 

21  Thus  saith  Jehovah :  Take  heed  to  yourselves. 
And  carry  no  burden  on  the  sabbath-day. 

And  bring  none  through  the  gates  of  Jerusalem. 

22  Bear  no  burden  from  }'our  houses  on  the  sabbath-day, 
And  do  no  kind  of  work ; 


CH.  XVIII.]  JEREMIAH.  47 

But  keep  ye  holy  the  sabbath-day, 
As  I  commanded  your  fathers. 

23  But  they  hearkened  not,  nor  inclined  their  ear, 
But  made  their  necks  stiff,  and  refused  to  hear, 
And  refused  to  receive  instruction. 

24  If  ye  will  now  diligently  hearken  to  me,  saith  Jehovah, 
And  bring  no  burden  through  the  gates  of  this  city  on  the 

sabbath-day. 
But  keep  holy  the  sabbath-day. 
Doing  no  work  therein, 

25  Then  shall  enter  the  gates  of  this  city  kings  and  princes, 
Who  sit  upon  the  throne  of  David, 

Riding  in  chariots  and  on  horses. 

They  and  their  chieftains, 

The  men  of  Judah,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem ; 

And  this  city  shall  be  inhabited  forever. 

26  Then  from  the  cities  of  Judah,  and  the  places  around  Je- 

rusalem, 
From  the  land  of  Benjamin,  and  from  the  plain, 
From  the  mountains,  and  from  the  South, 
Shall  they  come  bringing  burnt-offerings,  and  sacrifices, 
And  flour-offerings,  and  incense. 
And  bringing  thank-offerings  to  the  house  of  Jehovah. 

27  But  if  ye  will  not  hearken  to  me. 
To  keep  holy  the  sabbath-day. 

And  to  carry  no  burden  through  the  gates  of  Jerusalem  on 

the  sabbath-<^ay. 
Then  will  I  kindle  in  her  gates  an  unquenchable  fire, 
Which  shall  devour  the  palaces  of  Jerusalem. 


XIV. 

God's  power  over  nations  set  forth  by  the  type  of  the  potter  fashioning  liis 
clay.  — Ch.  XVIU. 

1       The  word  which  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah,  say- 


2  Arise,  and  go  down  to  the  potter's  house,  and  there  will 

3  I  cause  thee  to  hear  my  words.     So  I  went  down  to  the 


48  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XVIII. 

potter's  house,  and  behold,  he  was  at  work  at  the  wheel. 

4  And  the  vessel  which  he  was  making  of  clay  was  marred 
in  the  hand  of  the  potter ;  so  he  began  anew  and  made  it 
another  vessel,  as  seemed  good  to  the  potter  to  make  it. 

5  Then  came  the  word  of  Jehovah  to  me,  saying : 

6  Cannot  I  do  after  the  manner  of  this  potter 

With  respect  to  you,  0  house  of  Israel,  saith  Jehovah  ? 
Behold,  as  the  clay  is  in  the  hand  of  the  potter, 
So  are  ye  in  my  hand,  O  house  of  Israel ! 

7  Whenever  I  speak  concerning  a  nation  or  a  kingdom, 
That  I  will  pluck  it  up,  cast  it  down,  or  destroy  it, 

8  If  tliat  nation  shall  turn  from  its  wickedness 
On  account  of  which  I  threatened  it, 

Then  will  I  repent  of  the  evil  which  I  purposed  to  do  to  it. 

9  And  whenever  I  speak  concerning  a  nation  or  a  kingdom. 
That  I  will  build  it,  or  plant  it, 

10  And  it  shall  do  that  which  is  evil  in  my  sight, 
And  not  hearken  to  my  voice, 

Then  will  I  repent  of  the  good  with  which  I  promised  to 
bless  them. 

11  And  now  speak  to  the  men  of  Judah, 
And  to  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  saying. 
Thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

Behold,  I  am  framing  evil  against  you, 
And  meditating  a  design  against  you  ; 
Return  ye  now  every  one  from  his  evil  way, 
And  amend  your  ways  and  your  doings. 

12  But  they  say,  "  There  is  no  remedy, 
For  we  will  walk  after  our  own  devices, 

And  we  will  practise  every  one  the  perverseness  of  his 
evil  heart." 

13  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah : 
Inquire  ye  now  among  the  nations, 
Who  hath  heard  such  things  as  these  ? 

The  virgin  of  Israel  hath  done  a  deed  of  horror. 

14  Shall  the  snow  from  the  rocks  of  Lebanon  forsake  my 

fields  ? 
Or  shall  the  cold  flowing  waters,  that  come  from  afar,  be 
dried  up  ? 


CH.  XVIII.]  JEREMIAH.  49 

15  Yet  my  people  have  forgotten  me, 
And  burned  incense  to  vanity  ; 

They  stumble  in  their  paths,  the  old  ways. 

And  walk  in  ways  that  have  not  been  thrown  up, 

16  To  make  their  land  a  desolation, 
A  perpetual  hissing ; 

Every  one  that  passeth  through  it  shall  be  amazed, 
And  shake  his  head. 

17  I  will  scatter  them  before  the  enemy,  as  with  the  east  wind  r 
I  will  show  them  the  back,  and  not  the  face, 

In  the  day  of  their  calamity. 

18  But  they  say, 

"  Come,  let  us  devise  measures  against  Jeremiah; 
For  the  law  shall  not  perish  from  the  priest, 
Nor  counsel  from  the  wise, 
Nor  the  word  from  the  prophet ; 
Come,  let  us  smite  him  with  the  tongue. 
And  not  give  heed  to  any  of  his  words." 

19  Give  heed  to  me,  O  Jehovah, 

And  hear  the  voice  of  my  adversaries  ! 

20  Shall  evil  be  returned  for  good  ? 
For  they  have  digged  a  pit  for  me. 
Remember  how  I  have  stood  before  thee, 
To  announce  good  to  them, 

And  to  turn  away  thy  wrath  from  them ! 

21  Therefore  give  thou  up  their  sons  to  famine, 
And  deliver  them  to  the  edge  of  the  sword! 
Let  their  wives  be  childless  and  widows. 
Let  their  men  be  slain  by  pestilence, 

And  their  young  men  fall  by  the  sword  in  battle  ! 

22  Let  a  cry  be  heard  from  their  houses, 

When  thou  shalt  bring  a  troop  upon  them  suddenly ! 
For  they  have  digged  a  pit  to  take  me, 
And  hidden  snares  for  my  feet. 

23  Thou,  0  Jehovah,  knowest  all  their  plots  against  my  life 
Cover  not  their  iniquity, 

And  blot  not  out  their  sin  from  thy  sight! 
But  let  them  be  overthrown  before  thee ; 
Deal  with  them  in  the  time  of  thy  wrath ! 

VOL.  II,  3 


60  JEEBMIAH.  [CH.  XIX 

XV. 

The  destruction  of  Jerusalem  threatened  and  typified.  —  Ch.  XIX.  1-18. 

1  Thus  saith  Jehovah : 

Go  and  buy  an  earthen  bottle  of  the  potter, 
And  take  with  thee  the  elders  of  the  people, 
And  the  elders  of  the  priests, 

2  And  go  forth  to  the  valley  of  the  son  of  Hinnom, 
At  the  entrance  of  the  pottery-gate. 

And  proclaim  there  the  words 
Which  I  shall  speak  to  thee. 

3  Say,  Hear  the  word  of  Jehovah, 

Ye  kings  of  Jndah  and  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  ! 
Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel : 
Behold,  I  am  about  to  bring  such  an  evil  upon  this  place. 
That  whoever  heareth  of  it,  his  ears  shall  tingle. 

4  For  thoy  have  forsaken  me. 
And  have  alienated  this  place, 

And  have  burned  incense  in  it  to  strange  gods, 

Which  neither  the}--,  nor  their  fathers,  nor  the  kmgs  of 

Judah  have  known, 
And  have  filled  this  place  with  the  blood  of  innocent  chil- 
dren, 

5  And  have  built  high  places  to  Baal, 

To  burn  their  sons  in  the  fire  for  burnt-offerings  to  Baal ; 
Which  I  ordained  not,  and  commanded  not, 
And  which  never  came  into  my  mind. 

6  Therefore,  behold,  the  days  are  coming:,  saith  Jehovah, 
When  this  place  shall  no  more  be  called  Tophet, 

Nor  the  valley  of  tlie  son  of  Hinnom, 
But  the  val'ey  of  Slaughter. 

7  For  I  will  in  this  place  bring  to  naught  the  plans  of  Judah 

and  Jerusalem, 
And  I  will  cause  them  to  fall  by  the  sword  before  their 

enemies. 
And  by  the  hands  of  them  that  seek  their  lives ; 
And  their  dead  bodies  will  I  give  for  food 
To  the  birds  of  heaven  and  the  beasts  of  the  earth. 

8  And  I  will  make  this  city  a  wonder  and  a  hissing; 


CH.  XIX.]  JEREMIAH.  51 

Every  one  that  passeth  by  it  shall  wonder  and  hiss, 
On  account  of  all  its  plagues. 
9  For  I  will  cause  them  to  eat  the  flesh  of  their  sons  and  of 

their  daughters, 
Yea,  the  flesh  of  each  other  shall  they  eat, 
In  the  straitness  and  the  distress 
With  which  their  enemies,  and  they  that  seek  their  lives, 

shall  press  them. 

10  Then  break  thou  the  bottle 

Before  the  eyes  of  the  men  that  go  with  thee, 

11  And  say  to  them: 

Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  : 

So  will  I  break  this  people  and  this  city. 

As  one  breaks   a  potter's  vessel  which  cannot  be  made 

whole  again ; 
And  they  shall  be  buried  in  Tophet,  till  there  is  no  room 

to  bury. 

12  Thus  will  I  do  to  this  place  and  to  its  inhabitants,  saith 

Jehovah, 
And  I  will  make  this  city  itself  like  Tophet ; 

13  And  the  houses  of  Jerusalem  and  the  houses  of  the  kings 

of  Judah  shall  be  unclean,  like  the  place  of  Tophet, 
All  the  houses  upon  whose  roofs  they  have  buraed  incense 

to  all  the  host  of  heaven, 
And  poured  out  drink-offerings  to  strange  gods. 


XYI. 

Jeremiah's  persecution  by  Pashur.     His  complaint.  —  Ch.  XIX.  14  — 
XX.  18. 

14  Then  came  Jeremiah  from  Tophet, 
Whither  Jehovah  had  sent  him  to  prophesy, 
And  stood  in  the  court  of  the  house  of  Jehovah, 
And  said  to  all  the  people : 

15  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel: 
Behold,  I  am  about  to  bring  upon  this  city,  and  upon  all 

the  cities  belonging  to  it. 
All  the  evil  which  I  have  pronounced  against  it; 


52  JEREMIAH.  [CH  XX. 

For  they  have  made  their  necks  stiff, 
And  refused  to  hearken  to  my  words. 

1  Now  Pashur,  the  son  of  Immer,  the  priest,  who  was  also 
chief  overseer  in  the  house  of  Jehovah,  heard  Jeremiah 

2  prophesying  these  things.  Then  Pashur  smote  Jeremiah 
the  prophet,  and  put  him  in  the  stocks,  that  were  at  the 
high  gate  of  Benjamin,  which  was  in  the  house  of  Jehovah. 

3  And  on  the  next  day  Pashur  took  Jeremiah  out  of  tht> 
stocks.  Then  said  Jeremiah  to  him,  Jehovah  calleth  thee, 
not   Pashur,   but  Magor-missabib   [not   Safety  on   every 

4  side,  but  Terror  on  every  side].  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  : 
Behold,  I  am  about  to  make  thee  a  terror  to  thyself  and  to 
all  thy  friends ;  and  they  shall  fall  by  the  sword  of  their 
enemies,  thine  eyes  looking  on  ;  and  all  Judah  will  I  give 
into  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Babylon,  who  shall  carry  them 
captive  to  Babylon,  and  shall  smite  them  with  the  sword. 

5  And  I  will  give  all  the  wealth  of  this  city,  and  all  its  pos- 
sessions, and  all  its  precious  things,  and  all  the  treasures 
of  the  kings  of  Judah  will  I  give,  into  the  hand  of  their 
enemies,  and  they  shjUl  spoil  them,  and  take  them  and 

6  CJirry  them  to  Babylon.  And  thou,  Pashur,  and  all  that 
dwell  in  thy  house,  shall  go  into  caj)tivity ;  thou  shalt  go 
to  Babylon,  and  there  shalt  thou  die,  and  there  shalt  thou 
be  buried,  thou,  and  all  thy  friends,  to  whom  thou  hast 
prophesied  falsely. 

7  Thou  didst  persuade  me,  0  Jehovah,  and  I  was  per- 

suaded ; 
Thou  wast  stronger  than  I,  and  didst  prevail. 
But  I  am  in  derision  daily, 
Every  one  mockeih  me. 

8  For  whenever  I  speak,  I  cry  out  on  account  of  violence, 
And  complain  of  oppression  ; 

For  the  word  of  Jehovah  bringeth  upon  me  reproach, 
And  daily  derision. 

9  So  I  say,  I  will  no  more  make  mention  of  him, 
Nor  speak  any  more  in  his  name ; 

But  his  word  is  in  my  heart  like  a  burning  fire,  shut  up  in 

my  bones. 
And  I  am  weary  with  forbearing. 
And  I  cannot  refrain. 


<m.  XX.]  .  JEREMIAH.  53 

10  For  I  hear  the  sla^ider  of  many,  terror  on  every  side; 

"  Tell  us  something  against  him,  and  we  will  denounce 

him." 
All  my  familiar  friends,  they  who  leave  not  my  side,  [say,] 
"  Perhaps  he  will  be  enticed, 
So  that  we  may  prevail  against  him, 
And  take  our  revenge  on  him." 

11  But  Jehovah  is  on  my  side,  like  a  mighty  champion, 
Therefore  shall  my  persecutors  stumble,  and  not  prevail ; 
They  shall  be  covered  with  shame,  because  they  act  not 

widely,  — 
With  everlasting  shame,  that  shall  not  be  forgotten. 

12  O  Jehovah  of  hosts,  thou  that  provest  the  righteous, 
That  seest  the  reins  and  the  heart, 

Let  me  see  thy  vengeance  on  them. 
For  to  thee  have  I  laid  open  my  cause ! 

13  Sing  to  Jehovah  ! 
Praise  ye  Jehovah ! 

For  he  delivereth  the  oppressed 
From  the  hand  of  evil-doers. 

14  Cursed  be  the  day  on  which  I  was  born ; 

Let  not  the  day  on  which  my  mother  bore  me  be  blessed! 

15  Cursed  be  the  man  who  brought  the  tidings  to  my  father, 
Saying,  "  A  son  is  born  to  thee,"  making  him  very  glad ! 

16  Let  that  man  be  like  the  cities  which  Jehovah  overthrew, 

and  relented  not ; 
Let  him  hear  an  outcry  in  the  morning. 
And  an  alarm  at  noontide  ; 

17  Because  he  slew  me  not  before  I  saw  the  light. 
So  that  my  mother  might  have  been  my  grave. 
And  her  womb  have  been  great  with  me  forever ! 

18  Wherefore  came  I  forth  from  the  womb,  to  see  weariness 

and  sorrow, 
And  that  my  days  might  be  consumed  in  shame  ? 


64  JEREMIAH.  •  [ca.  XXI. 

XVII. 

The  capture  of  Jerusalem  threatened.  —  Ch.  XXI. 

1  The  word  which  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah, 
when  King  Zedekiah  sent  to  him  Pashur,  the  son  of  Mel- 
chiah,  and  Zephaniah,  the  son  of  Maaseiah,  the  priest,  say- 

2  ing :  Inquire,  I  pray  thee,  of  Jehovah  for  us  ;  for  Nebuchad- 
nezzar, king  of  Babyhjn,  maketh  war  against  us ;  whether 
Jehovah  will  deal  with  us  according  to  all  his  wondrous 
works,  that  he  may  go  up  from  us. 

3  And  Jeremiah  said  to  them,  Thus  shall  ye  say  to  Zed- 

4  ekiah :  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel :  Behold,  I 
will  turn  back  the  weaf)ons  of  war  which  are  in  your 
hands,  with  which  ye  fight  against  the  king  of  Babylon 
and  the  Chakhcans,  which  besiege  you  without  the  walls, 

5  and  I  will  assemble  them  in  the  midst  of  this  city.  And 
I  myself  will  fight  against  you  with  an  out-tretched  hand, 
and  with  a  strong  arm,  with  anger  and  fury  and  great 

6  wrath.     And  I  will  smite  the  inliabitants  of  tliis  city,  both 

7  man  and  beast;  by  a  great  pestilence  shall  they  die.  And 
after  this,  saith  Jehovah,  I  will  deliver  Zedekiah,  the  king 
of  Judah,  and  his  servants,  and  the  people,  and  those  in 
the  city  who  shall  be  left  alive  by  the  pestilence,  the 
sword,  and  tlie  famine,  into  the  hand  of  Nebuchadnezzar, 
the  king  of  Babylon,  and  into  tiie  hand  of  their  enemies, 
and  into  the  liand  of  those  that  seek  their  life;  and  he 
shall  smite  them  with  the  edge  of  the  sword.  He  shall 
not  spare  them,  nor  have  pity,  nor  show  mercy. 

8  And  to  this  people  thou  shalt  say.  Thus  saith  Jehovah : 
Behold,  I  set  before  you  the  way  of  life,  and  the  way  of 

9  death.  He  that  abideth  in  this  city  shall  die  by  the  sword, 
and  by  famine,  and  by  pestilence ;  but  he  that  goeth  out 
and  surrendereth  himself  to  the  Chalda^ans  that  besiege 

10  you,  he  shall  live,  and  bear  away  his  life  as  a  prey.  For 
I  have  set  my  face  against  this  city  for  evil,  and  not  for 
good,  saith  Jehovah.  It  shall  be  given  into  the  hand  of 
the  king  of  Babylon,  and  he  shall  burn  it  with  fire. 


CH.  xxii.]  JEREMIAH.  55 

1 1  And  tA)  tliG  house  of  the  king  of  Judali :  Hear  ye  the 

12  word  of  Jehovah,  O  house  of  David  !  Thus  saith  JehoTali : 
Administer  justice  in  season,  and  deliver  him  that  is  spoiled 
from  the  hand  of  the  oppressor,  lest  my  fury  go  forth  like 
fire,  and  burn  so  tliat  none  can  quench  it,  because  of  the 
evil  of  your  doings! 

13  Behold,  I  am  against  thee,  thou  inhabitant  of  the  valley, 
the  rock  of  the  plain,  who  sayest,  "  Who  shall  come  down 

14  against  us?  Or  who  shall  enter  our  habitations?"  But  I 
will  punish  you  with  the  fruit  of  your  doings.  I  will  kin- 
dle a  fire  in  her  forest,  which  shall  consume  all  around  her. 


XVIIT. 

Exhortation  and  threatening,  chiefly  directed  to  the  roj-al  family.  — 
Ch.  XXII. 

1  Tnus  said  Jehovali :  Go  down  to  the  house  of  the  king 
of  Judah,  and  there  speak  these  words. 

2  Hear  the  word  of  Jehovah,  thou  king  of  Judah, 
That  sittest  upon  the  throne  of  David, 

Thou,  and  thy  servants,  and  thy  people, 
Who  go  in  and  out  through  these  gates ! 

3  Thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

Do  justice  and  righteousness  ; 

Deliver  the  spoiled  out  of  the  hand  of  the  oppressor; 

To  the  stranger,  the  fatherless,  and  the  widow 

Do  no  wrong,  do  no  violence, 

And  shed  no  innocent  blood  in  this  place ! 

4  For  if  ye  shall  do  this. 

Then  shall  there  enter  in  through  the  gates  of  this  house 
Kings,  who  shall  sit  upon  the  throne  of  David, 
Riding  in  chariots  and  upon  horses, 
Each  one  with  his  servants  and  his  people. 

5  But  if  ye  will  not  hearken  to  these  words, 
By  myself  do  I  swear,  saith  Jehovah, 
That  this  house  shall  become  a  desolation. 


56  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XXII. 

6  For  thus  saltli  Jehovah  to  the  house  of  the  king  of  Judah : 
Gilead  art  thou  to  me,  yea,  the  summit  of  Lebanon ; 

Yet  will  I  make  thee  a  desert, 
As  cities  not  inhabited. 

7  I  will  appoint  a2:ainst  thee  destroyers, 
Every  one  with  his  weapons  ; 

And  they  shall  cut  down  thy  choice  cedars. 
And  cast  them  into  the  fire. 

8  And  many  nations  shall  pass  by  this  city. 
And  they  shall  say  one  to  another, 

"  Wherefore  hath  Jehovah  done  thus  to  this  great  city  ?  " 

9  Then  shall  they  answer : 

"  Because  they  forsook  the  covenant  of  Jehovah  their  God, 
And  worshipped  strange  gods. 
And  served  them." 

10  Weep  not  for  him  that  is  dead, 
IVIake  no  lamentation  for  him  ! 

Weep,  weep  ye  for  him  who  is  gone  away ; 
For  he  shall  return  no  more. 
Nor  see  his  native  land  ! 

11  For  thus  saith  Jehovah 

Concerning  Shallum,  the  son  of  Josiah,  king  of  Judah, 
Who  reigned  instead  of  Josiah  his  father, 
Who  went  forth  from  this  place : 
He  shall  return  to  it  no  more ; 

12  But  in  the  place  whither  they  have  led  him  captive  shall 

he  die, 
And  shall  see  this  land  no  more. 

13  Woe  to  him  that  buildeth  his  house  with  injustice, 
And  his  upper  apartments  with  wrong; 

That  exacteth  a  man's  service  without  wages, 
And  giveth  him  no  recompense ! 

14  That  saith,  "  I  will  build  me  a  large  house, 
And  spacious  apartments," 

And  that  cutteth  out  windows, 
And  ceileth  it  with  cedar, 
And  painteth  it  with  vermilion ! 

15  Shalt  thou  reign  because  thou  rivallest  others  in  cedar? 
Did  not  thy  father  eat  and  drink  ? 

Yet  he  had  regard  to  justice  and  equity; 


Cii.  XXII.]  JEREMIAH.  57 

Therefore  it  was  well  with  him. 

16  He  maintained  the  cause  of  the  poor  and  needy; 
Then  was  it  well  with  him; 

Was  not  this  to  know  me,  saith  Jehovah  ? 

17  But  thine  eyes  and  thy  heart  are  only  upon  thine  own  gain, 
And  the  shedding  of  innocent  blood, 

And  deeds  of  violence  and  oppression. 

18  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah, 

Concerning  Jehoiakim,  the  son  of  Josiah,  king  of  Judah: 
They  shall  not  lament  for  him,  saying, 
"  Alas,  my  brother  !  "  or,  "  Alas,  sister!  " 
They  shall  not  lament  for  him,  saying, 
"  Alas,  lord  !"  or,  "  Alas,  his  glory !  " 

19  With  the  burial  of  an  ass  shall  he  be  buried. 

Dragged  along  and  cast  forth  beyond  the  gates  of  Jerusa- 
lem. 

20  Go  thou  up  to  Lebanon  and  cry,  [O  Jerusalem !] 
And  upon  Bashan  lift  up  thy  voice  ; 

Cry  aloud  from  Abarim  ! 
For  all  thy  lovers  are  fallen. 

21  I  spake  to  thee  in  thy  prosperity. 
But  thou  saidst,  "  I  will  not  hear." 

This  hath  been  thy  manner  from  thy  youth ; 
Thou  hast  not  obeyed  my  voice. 

22  The  wind  shall  consume  all  thy  shepherds. 
And  thy  lovers  shall  go  into  captivity ; 
Then  shalt  thou  be  ashamed 

And  confounded  for  all  thy  wickedness. 

23  O  thou  that  dwellest  in  Lebanon, 
That  makest  thy  nest  in  cedars, 

How  wretched  shalt  tliou  be,  when  anguish  cometh  upon 

thee, 
Pain,  as  of  a  woman  in  travail ! 

24  As  I  live,  saith  Jehovah, 

Thou  Coniah,  son  of  Jehoiakim,  king  of  Judah, 
Though  thou  wert  the  signet  upon  my  right  hand, 
Even  thence  would  I  pluck  thee ! 

25  And  I  will  give  thee  into  the  hand  of  them  that  seek  thy 

lite, 

5* 


68  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XXIII 

And  into  the  hand  of  them  that  thou  fearest, 

Even  into  the  hand  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  kino;  of  Babylon, 

And  into  the  hand  of  the  Chaldteans. 

26  And  I  will  cast  thee  forth, 
And  thy  mother  that  bore  thee, 
Into  a  foreign  land, 

Where  ye  were  not  born  ; 
And  there  shall  ye  die. 

27  To  the  land  to  which  they  desire  to  return, 
Thither  shall  they  not  return. 

28  "  Is  then  this  man  Coniah  a  contemptible  broken  vessel  ? 
Is  he  a  vessel  which  no  man  careth  for  ? 

Wherefore  are  he  and  his  offspring  cast  forth. 
And  thrown  into  a  land  which  they  know  not  ?  " 

29  O  land,  land,  land,  hear  the  word  of  Jehovah! 

30  Thus  saith  Jehovah  : 
Write  ye  this  man  childless, 

A  man  that  shall  not  be  prosperous  through  his  life; 
For  none  of  his  offspring  shall  prosper, 
So  as  to  sit  on  the  throne  of  David, 
And  reign  hereafter  in  Judah. 


XIX. 

Rebuke  of  wicked  I'ulers,  and  promise  of  the  Messiah.  —  Ch.  XXIII.  1-8. 

1  Woe  to  the  shepherds. 

Who  lose  and  scatter  the  sheep  of  my  pasture,  saith  Jeho- 
vah. 

2  For  concerning  the  shepherds,  the  feeders  of  my  people, 
Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel : 

Ye  have  scattered  my  flock,  and  driven  them  away, 

And  have  not  taken  care  of  them. 

Behold,  I  am  about  to  requite  you 

For  the  evil  of  your  doings,  saith  Jehovah. 

3  But  I  will  gather  the  remnant  of  my  flock 

From  all  the  countries  whither  I  have  driven  them, 
And  I  will  bring  them  back  to  their  folds, 
And  they  shall  be  fruitful  and  increase. 


'.H.  XXIII.]  JEREMIAH.  C9 

4  And  I  will  raise  up  shepherds  over  them,  who  shall  feed 

them  ; 
They  shall  fear  no  more,  nor  be  dismayed ; 
Nor  shall  they  be  lost,  saith  Jehovah. 

5  Behold,  the  days  are  coming,  saith  Jehovah, 
When  I  will  raise  up  from  David  a  righteous  Branch, 
And  a  king  shall  reign  and  prosper, 

And  shall  maintain  justice  and  equity  in  the  land. 

6  In  his  days  Judah  shall  be  saved. 
And  Israel  shall  dwell  securely ; 

And  this  is  the  name  which  shall  be  given  him, 
Jehovah-is-ou  r-sal  vation . 

7  Therefore,  behold,  the  days  shall  come,  saith  Jehovah, 
When  they  shall  no  more  say,  "  As  Jehovah  liveth 

Who  brought  up  the  children  of  Israel  .from  the  land  of 
Egypt!" 

8  But,  ''As  Jehovah  liveth 

Who  brought  up  and  led  the  race  of  Israel  from  the  north 

country. 
And  from  all  the  countries  whither  I  had  driven  themi " 
And  they  shall  dwell  in  their  own  land. 


•XX. 

Against  the  false  prophets  of  his  age.  —  Ch.  XXJU.  9  -  40. 
9  Concerning  the  Prophets. 

My  heart  is  broken  within  me; 
All  my  bones  tremble. 
I  am  become  like  a  drunken  man, 
Like  a  man  whom  wine  hath  overcome, 
Because  of  Jehovah, 
And  because  of  his  holy  words. 

10       For  the  land  is  full  of  adulteries  ; 
Because  of  a  curse  doth  the  land  mourn  ; 
The  pastures  of  the  waste  are  dried  up ; 
For  they  run  to  do  evil, 


60  JEREMIAH.  [cn.  XXIII. 

And  their  might  is  without  right. 

11  Yea,  both  prophet  and  priest  are  profane; 

Even  in  my  house  have  I  found  their  wickedness,  saith 
Jehovah. 

12  Therefore  shall  their  way  become  as  slippery  places  in  the 

dark ; 
They  shall  be  driven  on  and  fall  therein ; 
For  I  will  bring  evil  upon  them 
In  the  time  of  their  visitation,  saith  Jehovah. 

13  In  the  prophets  of  Samaria  have  I  seen  folly ; 

They  prophesy  in  the  name  of  Baal,  and  cause  my  people 
Israel  to  err. 

14  In  the  prophets  of  Jerusalem  also  have  I  seen  a  horrible 

thing ;  ■ 

They  commit  adultery,  and  walk  in  falsehood; 
They  strengthen  the  liands  of  evil-doers, 
So  that  none  doth  turn  from  his  iniquity. 
They  have  all  become  to  me  as  Sodom, 
And  her  inhabitants  a.->  Gomorrah. 

15  Therefore    thus   saith   Jehovah  of  hosts  concerning   the 

prophets  : 
Behold,  I  will  feed  them  witli  wormwood, 
And  give  them  the  water  of  hemlock  to  drink  ; 
For  from  the  prophets  of  Jerusalem 
Hath  profaneness  gone  forth  into  all  the  land. 

16  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts : 
Hearken  not  to  the  words  of  the  prophets  ; 
Tliey  lead  you  to  vanity ; 

They  utter  the  vision  of  their  own  heart, 
And  not  from  the  month  of  Jehovah. 

17  To  them  that  desi)ise  me  they  say  continually, 
"  Jehovah  hath  said,  Ye  shall  have  peace  "  ; 

And  to  every  one  that  walketh  after  the  perverseness  of 

his  heart, 
"  No  evil  shnll  come  upon  you." 

18  For  who  of  them  hath  stood  in  the  council  of  Jehovah, 
And  hath  seen  and  heard  his  word  ? 

Who  hath  listened  to  his  word  and  heard  it? 

19  Behol.l  a  whirlwind  from  Jehovah  goelh  forth  in  fury, 


CH.  XXIII. 


JEREMIAH.  61 


Even  a  rushing  whirlwind  ; 

Upon  the  head  of  the  wicked  shall  it  rush. 

20  The  fierce  anger  of  Jehovah  shall  not  turn  back, 

Until  he  shall  have  executed,  until  he  shall  have  accom- 
plished the  purpose  of  his  heart. 
In  the  latter  days  ye  shall  understand  it  fully. 

21  I  sent  not  these  prophets,  yet  they  ran ; 
I  spake  not  to  them,  yet  they  prophesied. 

22  For  if  they  had  stood  in  my  council. 

Then  would  they  have  caused  my  people  to  hear  my  words. 
And  would  have  turned  them  from  their  evil  way. 
And  from  the  wickedness  of  their  doings. 

23  Am  I  a  God  near  at  hand,  saith  Jehovah, 
And  not  a  God  afar  off? 

24  Can  any  one  hide  himself  in  secret  places. 
So  that  I  shall  not  see  him  ?  saith  Jehovah ; 
Do  I  not  fill  heaven  and  earth  ?  saith  Jehovah. 

25  I  have  heard  what  the  prophets  say, 
Who  prophesy  falsehood  in  my  name, 
Saying,  ''  1  have  dreamed,  I  have  dreamed." 

26  How  long  shall  this  be 

In  the  heart  of  the  pro[)hets,  who  prophesy  falsehood, 
The  propliets  of  the  deceit  of  their  own  heart, 

27  Who  think  to  cause  my  people  to  forget  my  name 
By  the  dreams  which  they  relate  one  to  another, 
As  their  fathers  forgot  my  name  through  Baal  ? 

28  The  prophet  who  hath  a  dream,  let  him  tell  a  dream ; 
And  he  that  hath  my  word,  let  him  speak  my  word  truly ! 
What  is  the  chaff  to  the  wheat  ?  saith  Jehovah. 

29  Is  not  my  word  like  fire,  saith  Jehovah, 

And  like  a  hammer,  that  breaketh  the  rock  in  pieces  ? 

30  Therefore,  behold,  I  am  against  the  prophets,  saith  Je- 

hovah, 
That  steal  my  words  one  from  another. 

31  Behold,  I  am  against  the  prophets,  saith  Jehovah, 
That  take  their  tongues  and  utter  oracles. 

32  Behohl,  I  am  against  the  [)rophets  of  false  dreams,  saith 

Jehovah, 


62  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XXIV. 

Who  tell  them,  and  cause  my  people  to  err 

By  their  lies  and  their  arrogance. 

1  have  not  sent  them,  nor  commanded  them, 

And  they  shall  not  profit  this  people  at  all,  saith  Jehovah. 

33  And  when  this  people,  or  a  prophet,  or  a  priest 
Shall  ask  thee,  saying, 

"  What  is  the  burden  from  Jehovah  ?  " 

Then  say  thou  to  them,  "  What  is  the  burden?" 

That  I  will  cast  you  away,  saitli  Jehovah. 

34  And  the  prophet,  the  priest,  and  the  people, 
Who  shall  say,  "  The  burden  of  Jehovah," 

I  will  punish  that  man  and  his  house. 

35  Thus  shall  ye  speak,  one  to  another; 
"  What  liath  Jehovah  answered  ?  " 
And,  "What  hath  Jehovah  spoken?" 

36  And  of  a  burden  of  Jehovah  shall  ye  speak  no  more ; 
Else  shall  every  man's  word  be  his  burden, 
Because  ye  pervert  the  words  of  the  living  God, 

Of  Jehovah  of  hosts,  our  God. 

37  Thus  shall  thou  say  to  the  prophet : 

"  What  hath  Jehovah  answered  thee  ?  " 
And,  "  What  hath  Jehovah  spoken  ?  " 

38  If  ye  shall  say,  '•  The  burden  of  Jehovah," 
Then  thus  saith  Jehovah: 

Because  ye  say,  "  The  burden  of  Jehovah," 

Although  I  sent  to  you  and  said, 

Ye  shall  not  say,  "  The  burden  of  Jehovah," 

39  Therefore,  behold,  I  will  utterly  forget  you. 

And  I  will  cast  you,  and  the  city  which  I  gave  to  youi 
fathers,  out  of  my  presence  ; 

40  And  I  will  bring  upon  you  an  everlasting  reproach. 
And  a  perpetual  shame  which  shall  not  be  forgotten. 


XXI. 

The  type  of  good  and  bad  figs.  —  Ch.  XXIV. 

1       Jehovah  showed  me  this  vision.     Behold,  two  baskets 
of  figs  were  set  before  the  temple  of  Jehovah.     This  was 


CH.  xxiy.]  JEREMIAH.  63 

after  Nebuchadnezzar,  king  of  Babylon,  had  carried  away 
captive  Jeconiah,  the  son  of  Jehoiakim,  king  of  Judah,  and 
the  princes  of  Judah,  and  the  artificers,  and  the  smiths, 

2  from  Jerusalem,  and  had  led  them  to  Babylon.  One  of 
the  baskets  contained  very  good  figs,  like  those  which  are 
first  ripe.  The  other  contained  very  bad  figs,  so  bud  that 
they  could  not  be  eaten. 

3  And  Jehovah  said  to  me,  What  seest  thou,  Jeremi- 
ah ?  And  I  said  :  Figs  ;  the  good  figs,  exceedingly  good  ; 
and  the  bad,  exceedingly  bad,  so  bad  that  they  cannot  be 
eaten. 

4,  5  Then  came  the  word  of  Jehovah  to  me,  saying :  Thus 
saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel:  As  these  good  figs, 
so  will  I  regard  the  captives  of  Judah,  whom  I  have  sent 
out  of  this  place  into  the  land  of  Chaldiea  for  their  good ; 

6  yea,  I  will  set  my  eyes  upon  them  for  good,  and  I  will 
bring  them  again  to  this  land ;  and  I  will  build  them  up, 
and  not  pull  them  down  ;  and  I  will  plant  them,  and  not 

7  pluck  them  up.  And  I  will  give  them  a  heart  to  know 
me,  that  I  am  Jehovah ;  and  they  shall  be  my  people,  and 
I  will  be  their  God  ;  for  they  shall  return  to  me  with  their 
whole  heart. 

8  And  as  the  bad  figs,  which  are  so  bad  that  they  cannot 
be  eaten,  saith  Jehovah,  so  will  I  make  Zedekiah,  the  king 
of  Judah,  and  his  princes,  and  the  residue  of  Jerusalem, 
those  that  are  left  in  this  land,  and  those  that  dwell  in  the 

9  land  of  Egypt ;  and  I  will  give  them  up  to  oppression  and 
affliction  in  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth ;  yea,  to  be  a 
reproach  and  a  proverb,  a  taunt  and  a  curse,  in  all  places 

10  whither  I  shall  drive  them.  And  I  will  send  the  sword, 
the  famine,  and  the  pestilence  among  them,  till  they  be 
consumed  from  the  land,  which  I  gave  to  them  and  to 
their  fathers. 


64  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XXV. 


xxn. 

The  Babylonish  captivity  threatened,  and  the  punishment  of  Babylon  an(3 
other  nations.  —  Ch.  XXV. 

1  The  word  which  came  to  Jeremiah  concerning  all  the 
people  of  Judah  in  the  fourth  year  of  Jehoiakim,  the  son 
of  Josiah,  king  of  Judah,  which  was  the  first  year  of  Neb- 

2  uchadnezzar,  king  of  Babylon  ;  which  Jeremiah  the  prophet 
spake  to  all  the  people  of  Judah,  and  to  all  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Jerusalem,  saying :  — 

3  From  the  thirteenth  year  of  Josiah,  the  son  of  Amon, 
king  of  Judah,  even  to  this  day,  for  three  and  twenty  years, 
the  word  of  Jehovah  hatli  come  to  me,  and  I  have  spoken 
to  you,  rising  early  and  speaking ;  but  ye  have  not  heark- 

4  ened.  Also  Jeliovah  hath  sent  to  you  all  his  servants  the 
prophets,  rising  early  and  sending  them  ;  but  ye  have  not 

5  hearkened,  nor  inclined  your  ear  to  hear.  "  Turn  ye  now,'* 
said  they,  "every  one  from  your  evil  way,  and  from  your 
evil  doings,  and  ye  shall  dwell  in  the  land  which  Jehovah 

6  gave  to  you  and  to  your  fathers  for  ever  and  ever.  And 
go  not  after  strange  gods  to  serve  them,  and  to  worship 
them,  and  provoke  me  not  to  anger  with  the  work  of  your 

7  hands ;  and  I  will  do  you  no  hurt."  But  ye  have  not 
hearkened  to  me,  saith  Jeliovah,  that  ye  might  provoke 
me  to  anger  with  the  works  of  your  hands  to  your  own 

8  hurt.     Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts :  Because  ye 

9  have  not  hearkened  to  my  words,  behold,  I  will  send  and 
take  all  the  nations  of  the  North,  saith  Jehovah,  and  Nebu- 
chadnezzar, the  king  of  Babylon,  my  servant,  and  will 
bring  them  against  this  land  and  its  inhabitants,  and  against 
all  these  nations  round  about,  and  will  utteily  destroy  them, 
and  make  them  an  astonishment,  and  a  hissing,  and  a  per- 

10  petual  desolation.  Yea,  I  will  take  from  them  the  voice 
of  mirth,  and  the  voice  of  gladness,  the  voice  of  the  bride- 
groom and  the  voice  of  the  bride,  the  sound  of  the  miil- 

11  stones,  and  the  light  of  the  lamp.  And  this  whole  land 
shall  be  a  desolation  and  an  astonishment ;  and  these  na- 
tions shall  serve  the  king  of  Babylon  seventy  years. 


cii.  XXV.]  JEREMIAH.  65 

12  But  when  seventy  years  shall  have  passed,  I  will  punish 
the  kini^  of  Babylon  and  his  nation  for  their  iniquity,  saith 
Jehovah,  and  the  land  of  the  Chalda^ans,  and  I  will  make 

13  it  a  perpetual  desolation.  And  I  will  bring  upon  that 
land  all  my  words  which  I  have  pronounced  against  it,  all 
that  is  written  in  this  book,  which  Jeremiah  hath  prophe- 

14  sied  against  all  the  nations.  For  they,  even  they,  shall  be 
brought  into  subjection  to  many  nations  and  great  kings. 
I  will  render  to  them  according  to  their  deeds,  and  accord- 
ing to  the  works  of  their  own  hands. 

15  For  thus  hath  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  said  to  me  : 
Take  this  cup  of  the  wine  of  wrath  from  my  hand,  and  let 

16  all  the  nations  to  which  I  shall  send  thee  drink  of  it.  Let 
them  drink,  and  stagger,  and  become  mad  because  of  the 

17  sword  which  I  am  about  to  send  among  them.  So  I  took 
ihe  cup  from  the  hand  of  Jehovah,  and  gave  it  to  all  the 

18  nations  to  drink,  to  which  Jehovah  sent  me ;  to  Jerusalem 
and  to  the  cities  of  Judah,  and  to  the  kings  thereof,  and 
the  princes  thereof,  to  make  them  a  desolation,  and  an 
astonishment,  and  a  hissing,  and  a  curse ;    [as  it  is  this 

19  day.]     To  Pharaoh,  king  of  Egypt,  and  to  his  servants, 

20  and  to  his  princes,  and  to  all  his  people,  and  all  the  allied 
people ;  and  to  all  the  kings  of  the  land  of  Uz,  and  to  all 
the  kings  of  the  land  of  the  Philistines,  and  to  Askelon, 
and  to  Gaza,  and  to  Ekron,  and  to  the  remnant  of  Ashdod  ; 

21  to  Edom,  and  to  Moab,  and  to  the  children  of  Ammon ; 

22  and  to  all  the  kings  of  Tyre,  and  to  all  the  kings  of  Sidon, 

23  and  to  the  kings  of  the  lands  which  are  beyond  the  sea ;  to 
Dedan,  and  to  Tema,  and  to  Buz,  and  to  all  that  shave 

24  the  cheek ;  and  to  all  the  kings  of  Arabia,  and  to  all  the 

25  kings  of  the  allied  people  who  dwell  in  the  desert ;  and  to 
all  the  kings  of  Zimri,  and  to  all  the  kings  of  Elam,  and 

26  to  all  the  kings  of  Media;  and  to  all  the  kmgs  of  the 
North,  those  that  are  near,  and  those  that  are  afar  off 
with  respect  to  each  other,  and  to  all  the  kingdoms  of  the 
earth  which  are  upon  the  face  of  the  ground;  and  the 
king  of  Sheshach  shall  drink  after  them. 

97  And  say  to  them.  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God 
of  Israel :  Drink  ye  and  be  drunken,  and  vomit,  and  fall 
to  rise  no  more  because  of  the  sword  which  I  am  about 


66  JEREMIAH.  [cn.  xxv. 

28  to  send  among  you.  And  if  thej  refuse  to  take  the  cup 
from  thy  hand  to  drink,  then  say  to  them,  Thus  saith  Je- 

29  hovah  of  hosts :  Ye  shall  surely  drink  !     For  behold,  upon 
,     the  city  which  is  called  by  my  name  I  begin  to  bring  evil ; 

and  shall  ye  go  wholly  unpunished  ?     Ye  shall  not  go  un- 
punished ;  for  I  am  about  to  call  the  sword  upon  all  the 

30  inhabitants  of  the  earth,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts.  There- 
fore, prophesy  against  them  all  these  words,  and  say  to 
them :  — 

Jehovah  shall  roar  from  on  high, 
From  his  holy  habitation  shall  he  utter  his  voice ; 
He  shall  roar  aloud  against  his  dwelling-place ; 
A  shout  like  that  of  vintagers  shall  he  raise 
Against  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth. 

31  An  outcry  shall  reach  to  the  ends  of  the  earth ; 
For  Jehovah  hath  a  controversy  with  the  nations ; 
He  entereth  into  judgment  with  all  flesh  ; 

The  wicked  will  he  give  up  to  the  sword,  saith  Jehovali. 

32  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts: 

Behold,  evil  shall  go  forth  from  nation  to  nation. 
And  a  great  whirlwind  shall  be  raised  up  from  the  extrem- 
ities of  the  earth. 
S3  At  that  day  shall  the  slain  of  Jehovah  lie 

From  one  end  of  the  earth  to  the  other  end  of  the  earth ; 
They  shall  not  be  lamented,  nor  gathered,  nor  buried ; 
They  shall  be  dung  upon  the  ground. 

34  Howl,  0  ye  shepherds,  and  cry ! 

Roll  yourselves  in  the  dust,  ye  leaders  of  the  flock, 
For  your  time  to  be  slaughtered  has  come ! 
And  I  will  scatter  you,  and  ye  shall  fall  Uke  a  goodly  ves- 
sel. 

35  The  shepherds  shall  have  no  way  to  flee. 
Nor  the  leaders  of  the  flock  to  escape. 

36  [Hark  !]  the  voice  of  the  cry  of  the  shepherds, 
And  the  wailing  of  the  leaders  of  the  flock, 
Because  Jehovah  layeth  waste  their  pasture  ! 

37  Yea,  the  peaceful  pastures  are  destroyed 
Because  of  the  fierce  anger  of  Jehovah. 

88  He  hath  left,  like  a  lion,  his  covert ; 
For  their  land  is  become  desolate. 


CH.  XXVI.]  JEREMIAH.  67 

Because  of  the  wrath  of  the  destroying  sword, 
Aud  because  of  the  fierceness  of  his  anorer. 


xxm. 

Jeremiali  is  accused,  tried,  and  acquitted.  —  Ch.  XXVI. 

1       In  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Jehoiakim,  the  son  of 
Josiah,  king  of  Judah,  came  this  word  from  Jehovah,  say- 


2  Thus  saith  Jehovah :  Stand  in  the  court  of  the  house 
of  Jehovah,  and  speak  to  those  who  come  from  all  the  cit- 
ies of  Judah  to  worship  in  the  house  of  Jehovah  all  the 
words  which  I  have  commanded  thee  to  speak  to  them ; 
abate  not  a  word. 

3  If  perad venture  they  will  hearken  and  turn  every  one 
from  his  evil  way,  that  I  may  repent  me  of  the  evil  which 

4  I  purpose  to  do  to  them  because  of  their  evil  doings.  And 
thou  shalt  say  to  them,  Thus  saith  Jehovah :  If  ye  will 
not  hearken  to  me,  to  walk  in  my  law  which  I  have  set 

5  before  you,  to  hearken  to  the  words  of  my  servants  the 
prophets,  whom  I  sent  to  you,  rising  early  and  sending, 

6  and  ye  liave  not  hearkened,  then  will  I  make  this  house 
like  Shiloh,  and  this  city  will  I  make  a  curse  to  all  the 
nations  of  the  earth. 

7  And  the  priests  and  the  prophets  and  all  the  people 
heard  Jeremiah  speaking  these  words  in  the  house  of  Je- 

8  hovah.  And  wlien  Jeremiah  had  made  an  end  of  speak- 
ing all  that  Jehovah  had  commanded  him  to  speak  to  all 
the  peojjle,  then  the  priests  and  the  prophets  and  all  the 

9  people  seized  him,  and  said.  Thou  shalt  surely  die !  Why 
dost  thou  prophesy  in  the  name  of  Jehovah,  and  say.  This 
house  shall  be  as  Shiloh,  and  this  city  shall  be  made  deso- 
late without  an  inhabitant?  And  all  the  people  were  as- 
sembled together  against  Jeremiah  in  the  house  of  Jehovah. 

10       When  the  princes  of  Judah  heard   these  things,  they 


68  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XXVI. 

went  up  from  the  king's  house  to  the  house  of  Jehovah, 
and  sat  in  the  entrance  of  the  new  gate  of  the  house  of  Je- 
ll hovah.  Then  spake  the  priests  and  the  prophets  to  the 
jDrinces  and  to  all  the  people,  saying:  This  man  is 
worthy  to  die ;  for  he  hath  prophesied  against  this  city,  as 
ye  have  heard  with  your  ears. 

12  Then  spake  Jeremiah  to  all  the  princes  and  to  all  the 
people,  saying :  Jehovah  hath  sent  me  to  prophesy  against 
this  house,  and  against  this  city,  all  the  words  which  ye 

13  have  heard.  But  now  amend  ye  your  ways  and  your  do- 
ings, and  obey  the  voice  of  Jehovah,  your  God,  and  Jeho- 
vah will  repent  of  the  evil   which  he  hath  pronounced 

14  against  you.     And  as  for  me,  behold,  I  am  in  your  hands ; 

15  do  to  me  as  it  seemeth  good  and  right  in  your  eyes.  But 
know  ye  for  certain  that,  if  ye  put  me  to  death,  ye  shall 
surely  bring  innocent  blood  upon  yourselves,  and  upon 
this  city,  and  its  inhabitants ;  for  of  a  truth  Jehovah  hath 
sent  me  to  you  to  speak  all  these  words  in  your  ears. 

16  Tlien  said  tlie  princes  and  all  the  people  to  the  priests 
and  the  prophets :  This  man  is  not  worthy  to  die,  for  he 

17  hath  spoken  to  us  in  the  name  of  Jehovah,  our  God.  Cer- 
tain elders  of  the  land  also  rose  up,  and  spoke  to  all  the 

18  assembly  of  the  people,  saying:  Micah,  the  Morasthite, 
prophesied  in  the  days  of  Hezekiah,  king  of  Judah,  and 
spake  to  all  the  people  of  Judah,  saying,  Thus  saith  Jehovah 
of  hosts :  Zion  shall  be  ploughed  like  a  field,  and  Jerusa- 
lem sliall  become  heaps  of  stones,  and  the  mountain  of  the 

19  house  [of  Jehovah]  as  the  heights  of  a  forest.  Did  Heze- 
kiah, king  of  Judah,  and  all  Judah,  put  him  to  death  ?  Did 
he  not  fear  Jehovah,  and  beseech  Jehovah,  so  that  Jeho- 
vah repented  of  the  evil  which  he  had  pronounced  against 
them  ?  Shall  we  then  bring  so  great  an  evil  upon  our- 
selves ? 

20  There  was  also  another  man  that  prophesied  in  the 
name  of  Jehovah,  Urijah,  the  son  of  wShemaiah  of  Kirjath- 
jearim,  who  prophesied  against  this  city  and  this  land,  ac- 

21  cording  to  all  the  words  of  Jeremiah  ;  and  when  Jehoiakim 
the  king,  and  all  his  mighty  men,  and  all  the  princes,  heard 
his  words,  the  king  sought  to  put  him  to  death.    But  when 


CH.  xxvii.J  JEREMIAH.  69 

Urijah   heard  it,  he  was  afraid,  and  fled  and  went  into 

22  Egypt.  But  Jehoiakim  the  king  sent  men  into  Egypt, 
Eluathan  the  son  of  Achbor,  and  certain  men  with  him 

23  into  Egypt,  and  they  brought  Urijah  out  of  Egypt,  and 
carried  him  to  King  Jehoiakim,  who  slew  him  with  the 
sword,  and  cast  his  dead  body  into  the  graves  of  the  com- 

24  mon  people.  Nevertheless,  the  hand  of  Ahikam,  the  son 
of  Shaphan,  was  with  Jeremiah,  that  he  should  not  be  de- 
livered into  the  hand  of  the  people,  to  be  put  to  death. 


XXIY. 

Jeremiah  recommends  submission  to  the  king  of  Babylon.  —  Ch.  XXVII. 

1  In  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Zedekiah,  the  son  of 
Josiah,  king  of  Judah,  came  this  word  to  Jeremiah  from 
Jehovah. 

2  Thus  said  Jehovah  to  me :  Make  thee  bands  and  yokes, 

3  and  put  them  upon  thy  neck,  and  send  them  to  the  king 
of  Edom,  and  to  the  king  of  Moab,  and  to  the  king  of  the 
children  of  Ammon,  and  to  the  king  of  Tyre,  and  to  the 
king  of  Zidon,  by  the  hands  of  the  messengers  that  are 

4  come  to  Jerusalem,  to  Zedekiah,  king  of  Judah.  And 
command  them  to  say  to  their  masters.  Thus  saith  Jeho- 
vah of  host?5,  the  God  of  Israel :  Thus  shall  ye  say  to  your 

5  masters :  The  earth,  and  the  men  and  the  beasts  which  are 
upon  the  earth,  have  I  made  by  my  great  power  and  my 
outstretched  arm,  and  I  give  it  to  whomsoever  it  seemeth 

6  meet  to  me.  And  now  I  give  all  these  lands  into  the 
hand  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  the  king  of  Babylon,  my  servant ; 

7  the  beasts  of  the  field  also  I  give  him  to  serve  him.  And 
all  nations  shall  serve  him,  and  his  son,  and  his  son's 
son,  until  the  time  of  his  land,  even  his,  shall  come,  and 
then  shall  many  nations  and  great  kings  make  him  tlieir 

8  servant.  And  the  nation  and  the  kingdom  that  will  not 
serve  him,  Nebuchadnezzar,  the  king  of  Babylon,  and  put 
their  neck  under  the  yoke  of  the  king  of  Babylon,  —  with 
the  sword  and  with  famine  and  with  pestilence  will  I  pun- 
ish that  nation,  saith  Jehovah,  until  I  have  consumed  them 


70  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XXVII. 

9  by  his  hand.  Therefore  hearken  ye  not  to  your  prophets, 
and  your  diviners,  and  your  dreamers,  your  soothsayers, 
and  your  sorcerers,  who  say  to  you,  Ye  shall  not  serve  the 

10  king  of  Babylon.  For  they  prophesy  a  lie  to  you,  to  re- 
move you  far  from  your  land,  and  that  I  should  drive  you 

11  out,  and  that  ye  should  perish.  But  the  nations  that 
bring  their  neck  under  the  yoke  of  the  king  of  Babylon, 
and  serve  him,  those  will  I  let  remain  still  in  their  own 
land,  saith  Jehovah,  and  they  shall  till  it,  and  dwell  there- 
in. 

12  And  to  Zedekiah,  king  of  Judah,  also,  spake  I  accord- 
ing to  all  these  words,  and  said :  Bring  your  necks  under 
the  yoke  of  the  king  of  Babylon,  and  serve  him  and  his 

13  people,  and  live.  Why  will  ye  die,  thou  and  thy  people, 
by  the  sword,  by  famine,  and  by  pestilence,  as  Jehovah 
hath  spoken  concerning  the  nation  that  will  not  serve  the 

14  king  of  Babylon  ?  Therefore  hearken  not  to  the  prophets, 
that  say  to  you,  Ye  shall  not  serve  the  king  of  Babylon ; 

15  for  they  prophesy  a  lie  to  yon.  For  I  have  not  sent  them, 
saith  Jehovah ;  but  they  prophesy  a  lie  in  my  name,  that 
I  may  drive  you  out,  and  that  ye  may  perish,  ye  and  the 
prophets  that  prophesy  to  you. 

16  To  the  priests,  also,  and  to  all  the  people,  spake  I,  say- 
ing, Thus  saith  Jehovah:  Hearken  not  to  the  words  of 
your  prophets  wdio  proi)hesy  to  you,  and  say,  Behold  the 
vessels  of  the  house  of  Jehovah  shall  be  brought  back  from 
Babylon   now  shortly ;  for  they  prophesy  a  lie  to  you. 

17  Hearken  ye  not  to  them ;  serve  the  king  of  Babylon,  and 

18  live !  Why  should  this  city  become  a  desolation  ?  But 
if  they  be  indeed  prophets,  and  if  the  word  of  Jehovah  be 
with  them,  let  them  now  make  intercession  to  Jehovah 
of  hosts,  that  the  vessels  which  are  left  in  the  house  of 
eTehovah,  and  in  the  house  of  the  king  of  Judah,  and  in 

19  Jerusalem,  may  not  go  to  Babylon.  For  thus  saith  Jeho- 
vah of  hosts  concerning  the  pillars,  and  concerning  the  sea, 
and  concerning  the  bases,  and  concerning  the  residue  of 

20  the  vessels  that  are  left  in  this  city,  which  Nebuchadnez- 
zar, king  of  Babylon,  took  not,  when  he  carried  away  cap- 
tive Jeconiah,  the  son  of  Jehoiakim,  king  of  Judah,  from 
Jerusalem  to  Babylon,  with  all  the  nobles  of  Judah  and 


CH.  XXVIII.]  JEREMIAH.  71 

21  Jerusalem  yea,  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of 
Israel,  concerning  the  vessels  that  are  left  in  the  house 
of  Jehovah,  and  in  the  house  of  the  king  of  Judah  and  of 

i2  Jerusalem :  They  shall  be  carried  to  Babylon,  and  there 
shall  they  be  until  the  day  when  I  shall  visit  them,  saith 
Jehovah.  Then  will  I  bring  them  up,  and  restore  them 
to  this  place. 


XXV. 

Against  the  false  prophet  Hananiah.  —  Ch.  XXVIII. 

1  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  same  year,  in  the  beginning 
of  the  reign  of  Zedekiah,  king  of  Judah,  in  the  fourth  year, 
in  the  fifth  month,  that  Hananiah,  the  son  of  Azur  the 
prophet,  who  was  of  Gibeon,  spoke  to  me  in  the  presence 

2  of  the  priests  and  of  all  the  people,  saying.  Thus  saith 
Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel :  "  I  will  break  the 

3  yoke  of  the  king  of  Babylon.  Within  two  full  years  will 
I  bring  again  to  this  place  all  the  vessels  of  the  house  of 
Jehovah,  which  Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  of  Babylon  took 

4  from  this  place,  and  carried  to  Babylon.  And  Jeconiah, 
the  son  of  Jehoiakim,  king  of  Judah,  and  all  the  captives 
of  Judah  that  went  to  Babylon,  will  I  bring  again  to  this 
place,  saith  Jehovah  ;  for  I  will  break  the  yoke  of  the  king 
of  Babylon." 

5  Then  Jeremiah  the  prophet  spake  to  Hananiah  the 
prophet,  in  the  presence  of  the  priests,  and  in  the  presence 

6  of  all  the  people  that  stood  in  the  house  of  Jehovah.  And 
Jeremiah  the  prophet  said,  Amen  !  So  may  Jehovah  do  ! 
May  Jehovah  fulfil  thy  words  which  thou  hast  prophesied, 
and  bring  back  the  vessels  of  the  house  of  Jehovah,  and 

7  all  the  captives  from  Babylon  to  this  place !  Neverthe- 
less, hear  now  this  word,  which  I  speak  in  thine  ears,  and 

8  in  the  ears  of  all  the  people.  The  prophets  who  have 
been  before  me  and  before  thee  from  ancient  times  have 
also  prophesied  against  many  nations,  and  against  great 

9  kingdoms,  of  war,  of  calamity,  and  of  pestilence.  The 
prophet  who  prophesieth  of  peace,  when  the  word  of  the 


72  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XXIX. 

prophet  shall  come  to  pass,  then  shall  he  be  known  as  a 

10  proj^het  whom  Jehovah  hath  truly  sent.  Then  Hananiah 
the  prophet  took  the  yoke  from  the  prophet  Jeremiah's 

11  neck,  and  broke  it.  And  Hananiah  spake  in  the  presence 
of  all  the  people,  saying,  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  In  this 
manner  will  I  break  the  yoke  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  the  king 
of  Babylon,  from  the  neck  of  all  the  nations,  within  the 
space  of  two  full  years.  And  the  prophet  Jeremiah  went 
his  way. 

12  Then  came  the  word  of  Jehovah  to  Jeremiah,  after  that 
Hananiah  the  prophet  had  broken  the  yoke  from  the  neck 

13  of  the  prophet  Jeremiah,  saying:  Go  and  tell  Hananiah, 
saying :  Thou  hast  broken  a  yoke  of  wood,  but  thou  shalt 

14  make  instead  of  it  a  yoke  of  iron.  For  thus  saith  Jeho- 
vah of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel :  A  yoke  of  iron  do  I  put 
upon  the  neck  of  all  these  nations,  that  they  may  serve 
Nebuchadnezzar,  king  of  Babylon ;  and  they  shall  serve 
him.     The  beasts  of  the  field  also  do  I  give  to  him. 

15  Jeremiah  the  prophet  said  also  to  Hananiah  the  proph- 
et :  Hear  now,  Ilananiah  !  Jehovah  hath  not  sent  thee ; 

16  but  thou  makest  this  people  to  trust  in  a  lie.  Therefore 
thus  saith  Jehovah :  Behold,  I  will  cast  thee  off  from  the 
face  of  the  earth.    Tliis  year  thou  shalt  die  ;  for  thou  hast 

17  spoken  rebellion  against  Jehovah.  And  Hananiah  the 
prophet  died  in  the  same  year,  in  the  seventh  month. 


XXVI. 

Jeremiah's  letter  to  the  captives  at  Babylon.  —  Cii.  XXIX.  1-23. 

1  Now  these  are  the  words  of  the  letter  which  Jeremiah 
the  prophet  sent  to  the  residue  of  the  elders  of  the  captivi- 
ty, and  to  the  priests,  and  to  the  prophets,  and  to  all  the 
people,  whom  Nebuchadnezzar  had  carried  away  captive 

2  from  Jerusalem  to  Babylon,  after  the  departure  of  Jeco- 
niah  the  king,  and  the  queen,  and  the  eunuchs,  and  the 
princes  of  Judah  and  Jerusalem,  and  the  artificers,  and 

3  the  smiths,  from  Jerusalem,  by  the  hand  of  Elasah,  the 


en.  xxix.J  JERExAIIAH.  73 

son  of  Sliapliaii,  and  Gemariali,  the  son  of  Hilkiah,  (whom 
Zedekiah,  the  king  of  Judah,  sent  to  Babylon,  to  Nebu- 
chadnezzar, the  king  of  Babylon,)  saying  :  — 

4  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel,  to  all 
the  captives  whom  I  have  caused  to  be  carried  away  from 

5  Jerusalem  to   Babylon :   Build   ye  houses  and  dwell  in 

6  them  ;  and  plant  gardens  and  eat  the  fruit  of  them.  Take 
ye  wives,  and  have  sons  and  daughters ;  and  take  wives 
for  your  sons,  and  give  your  daughters  to  husbands,  that 
they    may   bear   sons    and   daughters ;    and    increase    ye 

7  there,  and  be  not  diminished.  And  seek  ye  the  peace  of 
the  city  whither  I  have  caused  you  to  be  carried  away 
captive,  and  pray  for  it  to  Jehovah,  for  in  its  peace  shall 

8  be  your  peace.  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God 
of  Israel :  Let  not  your  prophets  and  your  diviners,  who 
are  in  the  midst  of  you,  deceive  you,  neither  hearken  to 

9  your  dreams  which  ye  cause  to  be  dreamed.  For  they 
prophesy  falsely  to  you  in  my  name  ;  I  have  not  sent  them, 

10  saith  Jehovah.  For  thus  saith  Jehovah :  Surely,  when 
seventy  years  shall  be  completed  for  Babylon,  I  will  visit 
you,  and  I  will  perform  for  you  my  good  promise,  that  I 

11  would  bring  you  again  to  this  place.  For  I  know  the  de- 
signs which  I  have  in  mind  concerning  you,  designs  of 
good  and  not  of  evil,  to  give  you  a  happy  end,  and  fulfil 

12  your  hopes.    Then  ye  shall  call  upon  me,  and  go  in  peace ; 

13  ye  shall  pray  to  me,  and  I  will  hear  you  ;  ye  shall  seek 
me,  and  find  me,  when  ye  search  for  me  with  all  your 

14  heart.  And  I  will  be  found  by  you,  saith  Jehovah,  and  I 
will  bring  you  back  from  captivity,  and  I  will  gather  you 
from  all  the  nations,  and  from  all  the  places  whither  I 
have  driven  you,  saith  Jehovah  ;  and  I  will  bring  you 
again  to  the  place  whence  I  caused  you  to  be  carried  away 
captive. 

15  Since  ye  say,  Jehovah  hath  raised  us  up  prophets  in 

16  Babylon,  behold,  thus  saith  Jehovah  concerning  the  king 
that  sitteth  upon  the  throne  of  David,  and  concerning  all 
the  people  that  dwell  in  this  city,  your  brethren  that  went 

17  not  forth  with  you  into  captivity,  —  thus  saith  Jehovah  of 
hosts:  Behold,  I  will  send  upon  them  the  sword,  the  fam- 
ine, and  the  pestilence,  and  I  will  make  them  like  vile  figs, 

VOL.  II.  4 


74  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XXIX 

18  which  cannot  be  eaten  for  badness.  And  I  will  persecute 
them  with  the  sword,  and  with  famine,  and  with  pestilence, 
and  I  will  give  them  up  to  oppression  in  all  kingdoms  of 
the  earth,  to  be  a  curse,  and  an  astonishment,  and  a  hissing, 
and  a  reproach,  among  all  the  nations  whither  I  drive  them'; 

19  because  they  have  not  hearkened  to  my  words,  saith  Jeho- 
vah, when  I  sent  to  them  my  servants,  the  prophets,  rising 
early  and  sending  them ;  but  ye  would  not  hear,  saith  Jeho- 
vah. 

20  Hear  ye,  therefore,  the  word  of  Jehovah,  all  ye  of  the 
captivity,  whom  I  have  sent  from  Jerusalem  to  Babylon. 

21  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel,  concerning 
Ahab,  the  son  of  Kolaiah,  and  concerning  Zedekiah,  the 
son  of  Maaseiah,  who  prophesy  a  lie  to  you  in  my  name : 
Behold,  I  will  deliver  them  into  the  hand  of  Nebuchadnez- 
zar, king  of  Babylon,  and  he  shall  slay  them  before  your 

22  eyes.  And  from  them  shall  be  taken  a  curse  among  all 
the  captives  of  Judah  that  are  at  Babylon,  so  that  they 
shall  say,  "Jehovah  make  thee  like  Zedekiah  and  like 
Ahab,  whom  the  king  of  Babylon  roasted  in  the  fire!" 

23  because  they  have  practised  villany  in  Israel,  and  have 
committed  adultery  with  their  neighbors'  wives,  and  have 
spoken  lying  words  in  my  name,  which  I  commanded  them 
not.     But  I  know  it,  and  am  a  witness,  saith  Jehovah. 


xxvn. 

Against  the  false  prophet  Shemaiah.  —  Ch.  XXIX.  24-32. 

24  And  to  Shemaiah,  the  Nehelamite,  shalt  thou  say,  Thus 

25  saith  Jehovali  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel :  Because  thou 
hast  sent  letters  in  thy  name  to  all  the  people  that  are  at 
Jerusalem,  and   to   Zephaniah,  the  son  of  Maaseiah  the 

26  priest,  and  to  all  the  priests,  saying,  Jehovah  hath  made 
thee  priest  in  the  room  of  Jehoiada  the  priest,  that  there 
should  be  officers  in  the  house  of  Jehovah  against  every 
one  that  is  mad  and  prophesieth,  and  that  thou  shouldst 

27  put  him  into  the  stocks,  and  into  prison;  now,  therefore, 
why  hast  thou  not  reproved  Jeremiah  of  Anathoth,  who 


CH.  xxx.J  JEREMIAH.  75 

28  propliesieth  to  jou  ?  For  he  hath  sent  to  us  at  Babylon, 
saying,  This  captivity  is  long.  Build  ye  houses  and  dwell 
in  them,  and   plant  gardens,  and  eat  the  fruit  of  them. 

29  And  Zephaniah  the  priest  read  this  letter  in  the  ears  of 
Jeremiah  the  prophet. 

80       Then  came  the  word  of  Jehovah  to  Jeremiah,  saying : 

31  Send  to  all  those  of  the  captivity,  saying,  Thus  saith  Jeho- 
vah concerning  Shemaiah  the  Nehelamite:  Because  She- 
maiah  the  prophet  hath  prophesied  to  you,  and  I  sent  him 

32  not,  and  he  hath  caused  you  to  trust  in  a  lie,  therefore 
thus  saith  Jehovah  :  Behold,  I  will  punish  Shemaiah,  the 
Nehelamite,  and  his  offspring.  There  shall  descend  from 
him  not  a  man  to  dwell  among  this  people,  and  he  shall 
not  behold  the  good  which  I  will  do  for  my  people,  saith 
Jehovah ;  for  he  hath  spoken  rebellion  against  Jehovah. 


XXYIII. 

Promise  of  a  return  from  captivity. —  Ch.  XXX.,  XXXI. 

1  The  word  which  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah,  say- 
ing:— 

2  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel :  Write  thee  all 

3  the  words  which  I  have  spoken  to  thee  in  a  book.  For 
behold  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah,  when  I  will  bring 
back  the  captives  of  my  people  Israel  and  Judah,  saith 
Jehovah,  and  cause  them  to  return  to  the  land  which  I 
gave  to  their  fathers,  and  they  shall  possess  it. 

4  And  these  are  the  words  which  Jehovah  spake  concern- 
ing Israel  and  concerning  Judah. 

5  Behold,  thus  saith  Jehovah  : 
The  voice  of  trembling  do  we  hear ; 
There  is  alarm,  and  no  peace. 

6  Ask  ye  now  and  see. 

Whether  a  male  doth  bring  forth  ? 

Why  then  do  I  see  every  man's  hands  upon  his  loins,  like 
a  woman  in  travail  ? 


76i  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XXX. 

And  why  are  all  faces  turned  into  paleness  ? 

7  Alas  !  that  day  is  great, 

So  that  there  is  none  like  it ; 
It  is  a  time  of  trouble  for  Jacob, 
Yet  shall  he  be  saved  from  it. 

8  For  in  that  day,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts, 
I  will  break  his  yoke  from  his  neck, 
And  his  bands  will  I  burst  asunder, 

And  he  shall  be  subject  to  strangers  no  more. 

9  But  they  shall  serve  Jehovah,  their  God, 

And  David,  their  king,  whom  I  will  raise  up  for  them. 

10  Therefore  fear  thou  not,  0  my  servant  Jacob,  saith  Jeho- 

vah, 
And  be  not  thou  dismayed,  0  Israel ! 
For,  behold,  I  will  bring  thee  safe  from  afar. 
And  thy  posterity  from  the  land  of  their  captivity ; 
And  Jacob  shall  return,  and  be  at  rest ; 
Yea,  he  sliall  be  quiet,  and  none  shall  make  him  afraid. 

11  For  I  will  be  with  thee,  saith  Jehovah,  to  save  thee; 
AVhen  I  shall  make  a  full  end  of  all  the  nations 
Whither  I  have  dispersed  thee. 

Yet  will  I  not  make  a  full  end  of  thee ; 

I  will  correct  thee  in  measure. 

Yet  must  I  not  leave  thee  wholly  unpunished. 

12  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  : 
Thy  bruise  is  incurable ; 
Thy  wound  is  mortal. 

13  No  one  offereth  his  help  for  thy  cure ; 
No  healing  medicines  are  applied  to  thee. 

14  All  thy  lovers  have  foi'gotten  thee; 
They  inquire  not  after  thee. 

For  with  the  wound  of  an  enemy  have  I  smitten  tbee, 
"With  the  chastisement  of  a  cruel  one, 
I'or  the  multitude  of  thine  iniquities, 
Bec.-'use  thy  sins  were  increased. 

15  Why  criest  thou  because  of  thy  bruise  ? 
Thy  pain  is  without  remedy. 

For  the  multitude  of  thine  iniquities, 
Because  thy  sins  were  increased. 
Have  I  done  these  things  to  thee. 

16  Yet  all  they  that  devour  thee  shall  be  devoured, 


OH.  xxxr.]  JEREMIAH.  77 

And  all  tliine  enemies,  yea,  all  of  them,  shall  go  into  <jap« 

tivity, 
And  they  that  spoil  thee  shall  become  a  spoil, 
And  all  that  plunder  thee  will  I  give  up  to  plunder. 
17  For  I  will  restore  soundness  to  thee, 

And  I  will  heal  thee  of  thy  wounds,  saith  Jehovah; 
For  they  have  called  thee  the  Outcast, 
Zion,  whom  no  man  careth  for. 

IS       Thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

Behold,  I  will  bring  back  the  captives  of  the  tents  of  Jacob, 
And  I  will  have  pity  upon  his  dwelling-places, 
And  the  city  shall  be  builded  upon  her  heap, 
And  the  palace  shall  be  inhabited  as  of  old. 

19  And  out  of  them  shall  go  forth  thanksgiving. 
And  the  voice  of  them  that  make  merry. 

And  I  will  multiply  them,  and  they  shall  not  be  few, 
And  I  will  exalt  them,  and  they  shall  not  be  low. 

20  And  their  children  shall  be  as  aforetime, 

And  their  congregation  shall  be  established  before  me, 
And  I  will  punish  all  that  oppress  them. 

21  And  their  princes  shall  be  of  themselves, 

And  their  governor  shall  proceed  from  the  midst  of  them. 
And  I  will  cause  them  to  approach,  and  they  shall  come 

near  to  me  ; 
For  who  is  he  that  would  dare  to  come  near  to  me  ?  saith 

Jehovah. 

22  And  ye  shall  be  my  people, 
And  I  will  be  your  God. 

23  Behold,  a  whirlwind  from  Jehovah, 
Furious  doth  it  go  forth, 

Even  a  sweeping  whirlwind  ; 

Upon  the  head  of  the  wicked  shall  it  rush. 

24  The  fierce  anger  of  Jehovah  shall  not  turn  back 

Until  he  shall  have  executed,  until  he  shall  have  accom- 
plished, the  purpose  of  his  heart ; 
In  a  future  day  ye  shall  understand  it  fully. 

1       At  that  time,  saith  Jehovah,  will  I  be  the  God  of  all 
the  ftimilies  of  Israel, 
And  they  shall  be  my  people. 


78  JEREMIAH.  [cH.  XXXI. 

2  Thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

The  people,  escaped  from  the  sword,  hath  found  favor  in 

the  wilderness ; 
I  will  go  and  give  rest  to  Israel. 

3  Jehovah  appeared  to  me  from  afar,  [saying,] 
With  an  everlasting  love  do  I  love  thee, 
Therefore  have  I  kept  mercy  for  thee. 

4  Again  will  I  build  thee,  and  thou  shalt  be  built,  O  virgin 

of  Israel ! 
Again  shalt  thou  adorn  thy  tabrets, 
And  go  forth  in  the  dance  of  them  that  make  merry. 

5  Thou  shalt  yet  plant  vines  upon  the  mountains  of  Samaria ; 
The  planters  shall  plant,  and  eat  the  fruit. 

6  For  the  day  is  coming  when  the  watchmen  shall  cry  upon 

Mount  Ephraim, 
Arise  ye,  and  let  us  go  up  to  Zion, 
To  Jehovah,  our  God. 

7  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  : 
Sing  with  gladness  for  Jacob, 

And  shout  for  the  head  of  the  nations ! 
Publish  ye,  praise  ye,  and  say  : 
Jehovah,  thou  hast  saved  thy  people. 
The  remnant  of  Israel. 

8  Behold,  I  will  bring  them  from  the  land  of  the  North, 
And  gather  them  from  the  extremities  of  the  earth ; 
And  with  them  shall  be  the  blind  and  the  lame. 

The  woman  with  child,  and  she  that  is  in  travail  with  child 

together ; 
A  great  company  shall  return  thither. 

9  They  shall  come  with  weeping, 

And  amid  supplications  will  I  lead  them; 

I  will  conduct  them  to  streams  of  water. 

In  a  straight  way,  in  which  they  shall  not  stumble. 

For  I  have  become  a  father  to  Israel, 

And  Ephraim  is  my  first-born. 

10  Hear  the  word  of  Jehovah,  0  ye  nations, 
And  proclaim  it  in  the  distant  coasts,  and  say : 
"  He  that  scattered  Israel  will  gather  him. 
And  will  guard  him,  as  a  shepherd  his  flock." 

11  For  Jehovah  hath  redeemed  Jacob, 


CH.  XXXI.]  JEREMIAH.  »  79 

And  ransomed  him  from  the  hand  of  him  that  was  stronger 
than  he. 

12  And  they  shall  come  and  sing  upon  the  height  of  Zion; 
They  shall  exult  in  the  bounty  of  Jehovah, 

The  corn,  and  the  new  wine,  and  the  oil, 
And  the  young  of  tlie  flock,  and  of  the  herd ; 
And  they  shall  be  as  a  well-watered  garden, 
And  they  shall  languish  no  more. 

13  Then  shall  the  virgin  rejoice  in  the  dance, 
And  the  young  men  and  old  men  together, 
For  I  will  change  their  mourning  into  joy  ; 

I  will  comfort  them,  and  cheer  them  after  their  sorrow. 

14  And  I  will  satisfy  the  priests  with  fatness. 

And  my  people  shall  be  satisfied  with  my  bounty,  saith 
Jehovah. 

15  Thus  saith  Jehovah: 

A  voice  hath  been  heard  in  Ramah, 

Lamentation  and  bitter  weeping ; 

Rachel,  weeping  for  her  children, 

Refuseth  to  be  comforted,  because  they  are  no  more. 

16  Thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

Retrain  thy  voice  from  weeping. 

And  thine  eyes  from  tears, 

Foi-  thy  labor  shall  be  rewarded,  saith  Jehovah ; 

They  shall  come  again  from  the  land  of  the  enemy. 

17  There  is  hope  for  thy  future  days,  saith  Jehovah; 
Thy  children  shall  come  again  to  their  border. 

IS       I  have  surely  heard  Ephraim  bemoaning  himself: 
"  Thou  hast  chastised  me,  and  I  was  chastised, 
Like  a  steer  not  broken. 
Turn  thou  me,  and  I  shall  be  turned, 
For  thou.  O  Jehovah,  art  my  God  ! 

19  Surely,  after  I  returned,  I  repented. 

And  after  1  was  instructed,  I  smote  upon  my  thigh ; 
I  was  ashamed,  yea,  I  was  confounded. 
Because  I  bore  the  reproach  of  my  youth.*' 

20  Is  Ephraim  my  dear  son  ? 
Is  he  a  beloved  child  ? 

For  as  often  as  I  speak  of  him, 
I  do  earnestly  remember  him  still. 


80  '  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XXXI. 

Mj  heart  beateth  for  him ; 

1  will  have  mercy  upon  him,  saith  Jehovah 

21  Set  thee  up  way m arks  ; 
Raise  thee  pillars  ; 

Have  reeard  to  the  highway,  the  way  that  thou  goest ! 
Return,  O  virgin  of  Israel, 
Return  to  these  thy  cities ! 

22  How  lonor  wilt  thou  wander  about,  0  rebellious  daughter  ? 
Behold,  Jehovah  createth  a  new  thing  in  the  earth : 

The  woman  shall  protect  the  man. 

23  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel : 
Again  shall  they  say  in  the  land  of  Judah, 

And  in  the  cities  thereof,  when  I  bring  back  their  captives, 
"May  Jehovah  bless  thee,  O  habitation  of  justice,  O  holy 
mountain  !  " 

24  And  Judah  shall  dwell  in  it,  and  all  his  cities  together, 
Husbandmen,  and  they  that  go  forth  with  their  flocks. 

25  For  I  will  refresh  him  that  is  thirsty. 
And  I  will  satisfy  him  that  languisheth. 

26  Upon  this  I  awoke,  and  beheld, 
And  my  sleep  was  sweet  to  me. 

27  Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah, 

That  I  will  sow  the  house  of  Israel  and  the  house  of  Ju* 

dah 
With  the  seed  of  man,  and  with  the  seed  of  beast. 

28  And  it  shall  be  that  as  I  have  watched  over  them 
To  pluck  up,  and  to  pull  down,  and  to  overthrow, 
And  to  destroy,  and  to  afflict. 

So  will  I  watch  over  them 

To  build,  and  to  plant,  saith  Jehovah. 

29  In  those  days  they  shall  no  more  say, 
"  The  fatliers  have  eaten  sour  grapes. 
And  the  cliildren's  teeth  are  set  on  edge/* 

30  But  every  one  shall  die  for  his  own  iniquity ; 
Every  man  that  eateth  sour  grapes, 

His  teeth  shall  be  set  on  edge. 

31  Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah, 


CH.  XXXI.]  /       JEREMIAH.  81 

That  I  will  make  with  the  house  of  Israel, 
And  with  the  house  of  Judah,  a  new  covenant ; 

32  Not  according  to  the  covenant  which  I  made  with  their 

fathers, 
In  the  day  when  I  took  them  by  the  hand 
To  bring  them  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt ; 
Which  covenant  of  mine  they  broke, 
And  I  rejected  them,  saith  Jehovah. 

33  But  this  is  the  covenant  which  I  will  make  with  the  house 

of  Israel : 
After  those  days,  saith  Jehovah,  I  will  put  my  law  into 

their  inward  parts. 
And  upon  their  hearts  will  I  write  it ; 
And  I  will  be  their  God, 
And  they  shall  be  my  people. 

34  And  they  shall  teach  no  more, 

Every  man  his  neighbor,  and  every  man  his  brother, 

Saying,  "  Know  ye  Jehovah  !  " 

For  they  shall  all  know  me, 

From  the  least  of  them  even  to  the  greatest  of  them,  saith 

Jehovah  ; 
For  I  will  forgive  their  iniquity, 
And  I  will  remember  their  sin  no  more. 

35  Thus  saith  Jehovah, 

Who  made  the  sun  for  a  light  by  day, 
And  the  ordinances  of  the  moon  and  stars  for  a  light  by  night, 
Who  stirreth  up  the  sea,  so  that  the  waves  thereof  roar, 
Jehovah  of  hosts  is  his  name  : 

36  If  these  ordinances  shall  depart  from  before  me, 

Then  shall  the  race  of  Israel  also  cease  from  being  a  na- 
tion before  me  forever. 

37  Thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

If  the  heavens  above  can  be  measured. 

Or  the  foundations  of  the  earth  beneath  searched  out. 

Then  will  I  cast  off  all  the  race  of  Israel 

For  all  which  they  have  done,  saith  Jehovah. 

38  Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah, 
That  the  city  shall  be  built  to  Jehovah 

From  the  tower  of  Hananeel  to  the  corner-gate. 

39  And  the  measuring  line  shall  go  forth  over  against  it  even 

to  the  hill  Gareb, 


82  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XXXII. 

And  extend  itself  to  Goath. 
40  And  the  whole  valley  of  the  dead  bodies  and  of  the  ashes, 
And  all  the  fields  to  the  brook  Kidron, 
Even  to  the  corner  of  the  horsegate  toward  the  East, 
Shall  be  holy  to  Jehovah. 
No  more  shall  it  be  plucked  up, 
Or  thrown  down,  forever. 


XXIX. 

Jeremiah's  purchase  of  a  piece  of  land,  to  express  the  certainty  of  the  return 
of  the  Jews  from  captivity.  —  Ch.  XXXII. 

1  The  word  w^hich  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah  in 
the  tenth  year  of  Zedekiah,  the  king  of  Judah,  which  was 

2  the  eighteentli  year  of  Nebuchadnezzar.  And  at  that  time 
the  army  of  the  king  of  Babylon  was  laying  siege  to  Jeru- 
salem, and  Jeremiah  the  })rophet  was  shut  up  in  the  court 
of  the  prison,  which  was  in  the  house  of  the  king  of  Judah. 

3  For  Zedekiah,  the  king  of  Judah,  had  shut  him  up,  saying, 
Wherefore  dost  thou  prophesy,  and  say,  "  Thus  saith  Je- 
hovah :  Behold,  I  am  about  to  give  this  city  into  the  hand 

4  of  the  king  of  Babylon,  and  he  shall  take  it ;  and  Zedeki- 
ah, the  king  of  Judah,  shall  not  escape  out  of  the  hand  of 
the  Chaldieans,  but  shall  surely  be  delivered  into  the  hand 
of  the  king  of  Babylon,  and  lie  shall  speak  with  him  mouth 

5  to  mouth,  and  his  eyes  shall  behold  his  eyes ;  and  he  shall 
lead  Zedekiah  to  Babylon,  and  there  shall  he  be  until  I 
visit  him,  saith  Jehovali ;  though  ye  fight  with  the  Chal- 
deans, ye  shall  not  prosper  ?  " 

6  Then  said  eTeremiah,  The  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me, 

7  and  said :  Behold,  Hanameel,  the  son  of  Shallum,  thine 
uncle,  will  come  to  thee,  and  say.  Buy  thee  my  field  which 
is  in  Anathoth,  for  thine  is  the  redemption-right  to  buy  it. 

8  And  so  Hanameel,  the  son  of  my  uncle,  came  to  me  in  the 
court  of  the  prison  according  to  the  word  of  Jehovah,  and 
said  to  me :  Buy,  I  pray  thee,  my  field,  which  is  in  Ana- 
thoth, for  tliine  is  the  right  of  inJieritance  and  redemption  ; 
buy  it  for  thyself!     Then  I  knew  that  this  was  the  word 


en.  xxxu]  JEREMIAH.  83 

9  of  Jehovah.     I  bought,  therefore,  the  field  of  Hanameel, 
mj  uncle's  son,  in  Auathoth,  and  I  paid  him  the  money, 

10  seventeen  shekels  of  silver.  And  I  wrote  a  deed,  and 
sealed  it,  and   took  witnesses   thereto,  and  weighed  the 

11  silver  in  the  balances.  And  I  took  the  purchase-deed, 
that  which  v/as  sealed  according  to  the  law  and  the  stat- 

12  utes,  and  that  which  was  open,  and  I  gave  the  purchase- 
deed  to  Baruch,  the  son  of  Neriah,  the  son  of  Maaseiah, 
in  the  presence  of  Hanameel,  mj  uncle's  son,  and  in  the 
presence  of  the  witnesses,  who  subscribed  their  names  to 
the  purchase-deed,  and   in  the  presence  of  all  the  Jews 

13  who  sat  in  the  court  of  the  prison.    And  I  charged  Baruch 

14  in  their  presence,  saying,  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the 
God  of  Israel :  Take  these  writings,  this  sealed  purchase- 
deed,  and  this  open  deed,  and  put  them  into  an  earthen 

15  vessel,  that  they  may  endure  a  great  length  of  time.  For 
thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel :  Yet  again 
shall  houses  and  fields  and  vineyards  be  bought  in  this 
laud. 

IG  And  when  I  had  delivered  the  purchase-deed  to  Ba- 
ruch, the  son   of  Nei'iah,  I  prayed    to  Jehovah,  saying, 

17  Ah,  Lord,  Jehovah !  Behold,  thou  hast  made  the  heavens 
and  the  earth  by  thy  great  power  and  thy  stretched-out 

18  arm,  and  there  is  nothing  too  hard  for  thee.  Thou  show- 
est  kindness  to  a  thousand  generations,  and  recompensest 
the  iniquity  of  the  fathers  into  the  bosom  of  the  children 
who  come  after  them.     The  great,  the  mighty  Gud,  Jeho- 

19  vah  of  hosts  is  his  name,  great  in  counsel  and  mighty  in 
work  ;  for  thine  eyes  are  open  upon  all  the  ways  of  the  spns 
of  men,  to  give  every  one  according  to  his  ways,  and  ac- 

20  cording  to  the  fruit  of  his  doings  ;  who  hast  displayed  signs 
and  wonders  in  the  land  of  Egypt  even  to  this  day,  and  in 
Israel,  and  among  other  men,  and  hast  made  thee  a  name, 

21  as  at  this  day  ;  and  hast  brought  forth  thy  people  Israel 
out  of  the  land  of  Egypt  with  signs,  and  with  wonders, 
and  with  a  strong  hand,  and  with  a  stretched-out  arm,  and 

22  with  great  terror,  and  hast  given  them  this  land,  which 
thou  didst  swear  to  their  fathers  to  give  them,  a  land  fiow- 

23  ing  with  milk  and  honey ;  and  they  have  come  in  and  pos- 
sessed it;  but  they  have  not  obeyed  thy  voice,  nor  walked 
accordiiig  to   thy   law.     They  have  done  nothing  of  all 


S4  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XXXII. 

whicli  thou  commandedst  them  to  do.    Therefore  hast  thou 

24  caused  all  this  evil  to  come  upon  them.  Behold,  the 
mounds  of  the  enemy  have  already  come  up  against  the 
city  to  take  it ;  and  the  city  is  given  into  the  hand  of  the 
ChaldiBans,  who  fight  against  it  by  means  of  the  sword, 
and  of  the  famine,  and  of  the  pestilence ;  and  what  thou 
hast  spoken  is  come  to  pass,  and,  behold,  thou  seest  it. 

25  And  yet  hast  thou  said  to  me,  O  Lord  Jehovah,  "  Buy 
thee  the  field  for  money,  and  take  witnesses  thereto ! " 
when  the  city  is  given  into  the  hand  of  the  Chaldoeans. 

2b'       Then  came  the  word  of  Jehovah  to  Jeremiah,  saying: 

27  Behold,  I,  Jehovah,  am  the  God  of  all  flesh.     Is  there 

28  anything  too  hard  for  me  ?  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  : 
Behold,  I  will  give  this  city  into  the  hand  of  the  Chal- 
daeans,  and  into  the  hand  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  the  king  of 

29  Babylon,  and  he  shall  take  it.  And  the  Chaldceans  who 
fight  against  this  city  shall  come  and  set  this  city  on  fire, 
and  burn  it,  with  the  Jiouses  upon  whose  roofs  they  have 
offered  incense  to  Baal,  and  poured  out  incense  to  other 

30  gods,  to  provoke  me  to  anger.  For  the  children  of 
Israel  and  the  children  of  Judah  have  done  nothing  but 
evil  before  me  from  their  youth ;  yea,  the  children  of  Is- 
rael have  but  provoked  me  to  anger  with  the  work  of 

31  their  hands,  saith  Jehovah.  For  this  city  hath  been  the 
object  of  my  anger  and  my  fury,  from  the  day  when  they 
built  it  even  to  this  day ;  that  I  might  remove  it  from  be- 

32  fore  my  face,  because  of  all  the  wickedness  of  the  children 
of  Israel,  and  of  the  children  of  Judah,  which  they  have 
committed  to  provoke  me  to  singer,  they,  their  kings,  their, 
princes,  their  priests,  and  their  prophets,  and  the  men  of 

33  Judah,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem.  For  they  have 
turned  to  me  the  back,  and  not  the  face ;  though  I  have 
taught  them,  rising  up  early  and  teaching  them,  yet  have 

34  they  not  heai'kened  to  recei^'e  instruction.  And  they 
have  set  their  abominations  in  the  house  which  is  called  by 

35  my  name,  to  defile  it.  And  they  have  built  the  high  places 
of  Baal,  which  are  in  the  valley  of  the  son  of  Hinnom,  to 
cause  their  sons  and  their  daughters  to  pass  through  the 
fire  to  Moloch,  whicli  I  commanded  them  not,  neither  came 
it  into  my  mind,  that  they  should  practise  their  abomina- 
tion, to  cause  Judah  to  >in. 


CH.  XXXIII. 


JEREMIAH.  85 


36  Yet  now  thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  concern- 
ing this  city,  of  which  ye  say,  "  It  is  delivered  into  the 
hand  of  the  king  of  Babylon  by  the  sword,  and  by  the  fam- 

37  ine,  and  by  the  pestilence."  Behold,  I  will  gather  them  out 
of  all  the  countries  whither  I  have  driven  them  in  my  an- 
ger and  my  fury  and  my  great  wrath,  and  I  will  bring 
them  back  to  this  place,  and  I  will  cause  them  to  dwell 

.38  securely,  and  they  shall  be  my  people,  and  I  will  be  their 

39  God.  And  I  will  give  them  one  heart,  and  one  way,  to 
fear  me  continually,  that  it  may  be  well  with  them,  and 

40  with  their  children  after  them.  And  I  will  make  an  ever- 
lasting covenant  with  them,  that  I  will  not  turn  away  from 
them,  nor  cease  to  do  them  good ;  for  I  will  put  my  fear 

41  in  their  hearts,  that  they  shall  not  depart  from  me.  Yea, 
I  will  rejoice  over  them  to  do  them  good,  and  I  will  plant 
them  in  this  land  in  truth,  with  my  whole  heart,  and  with 

42  my  whole  soul.  For  thus  saith  Jehovah:  As  I  have 
brought  upon  this  people  all  this  great  evil,  so  will  I  bring 
upon  them  all   the  good  which  I  have  promised  them. 

43  And  fields  shall  yet  be  bought  in  this  land,  of  which  ye 
say,  ''  It  is  desolate,  without  man  or  beast ;  it  is  given  in- 

44  to  the  hand  of  the  Chalda3ans."  Fields  shall  men  buy  for 
money,  and  subscribe  deeds,  and  seal  them,  and  take  wit- 
nesses, in  the  land  of  Benjamin,  and  in  the  places  about 
Jerusalem,  and  in  the  cities  of  Judah,  and  in  the  cities  of 
the  hill-country,  and  in  the  cities  of  the  valley,  and  in  the 
cities  of  the  south;  for  I  will  bring  them  back  from  their 
captivity,  saith  Jehovah. 


XXX. 

Promise  of  a  return  from  exile,  and  of  other  blessings.  —  Ch.  XXXIII. 

1  The  word  of  Jehovah  came  also  to  Jeremiah  the  second 
time,  while  he  was  shut  up  in  the  court  of  the  prison,  and 
said :  — 


2       Thus  saith  Jehovah,  who  doeth  it, 
Jehovah  who  disposeth  it,  to  establish  it; 
Jehovah  is  his  name. 


86  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XXXIII* 

3  Call  to  me,  and  I  will  answer  thee, 
And  I  will  show  thee  great  things, 

And  hidden  things  which  thou  kuowest  not. 

4  For  thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel, 
Concerning  the  houses  of  this  city, 

And  concerning  the  houses  of  the  kings  of  Judah, 

AVhich  are  thrown  down  toward  the  mounds  and  the  sword, 

5  To  fight  with  the  Chaldoeans, 

And  to  fill  them  with  the  dead  bodies  of  men, 
Whom  I  have  smitten  in  mine  anger  and  in  my  wrath, 
And  for  all  whose  wickedness  I  have  hid  my  face  from 
this  city: 

6  Behold,  I  will  bind  up  her  wounds,  and  heal  them. 

And  I  will  reveal  to  them  abundance  of  peace  and  stability. 

7  And  I  will  bring  back  the  captives  of  Judah, 
And  the  captives  of  Israel, 

And  I  will  build  them,  as  at  the  first. 

8  And  I  will  cleanse  them  from  all  their  iniquity, 
Wliereby  they  have  sinned  against  me ; 

And  I  will  forgive  all  their  iniquities, 
Whereby  tlii^y  have  sinned. 
And  have  rebelled  against  me. 

9  And  it  [the  city]  shall  be  to  me  a  name  of  joy, 

A  praise  and  a  glory  among  all  the  nations  of  the  earth, 
AVho  shall  hear  of  all  the  good  which  I  do  to  them. 
And  they  shall  fear  and  tremble  because  of  all  the  good, 
And  because  of  all  the  prosperity,  which  I  bestow  upon  it. 

10  Thus  saith  Jehovah: 

Yet  again  shall  be  heard  in  this  place, 

OK  which  ye  say, 

''It  is  desolate,  without  man  and  without  beast," 

In  the  cities  of  Judah,  and  in  tlie  streets  of  Jerusalem, 

Which  are  desolate,  without  man. 

Even  without  an  inhabitant  and  without  beast, 

11  The  voice  of  joy  and  the  voice  of  gladness, 

The  voice  of  the  bridegroom  and  the  voice  of  the  bride. 
The  voice  of  tliem  that  say,  "  Praise  ye  Jehovah  of  hosts, 
For  Jehovah  is  good, 
For  his  mercy  eildureth  forever  !  " 

And  of  them  that  bring  an  offering  of  praise  to  the  house 
of  Jehovah. 


OH.  XXXIII.]  JEREMIAH.  87 

F<jr  I  will  restore  the  captives  of  the  land, 
As  at  the  first,  saith  Jehovah. 

12  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  : 

Yet  again  shall  there  be  in  this  place, 
Which  is  desolate,  without  man  and  without  beast, 
And  in  all  the  cities  thereof, 

An  habitation  of  shepherds,  who  shall  cause  their  flocks 
to  rest ; 

13  In  the  cities  of  the  hill-country,  and  in  the  cities  of  the 

plain, 

And  in  the  cities  of  the  south,  and  in  the  land  of  Benja- 
min, 

And  in  the  places  about  Jerusalem,  and  in  the  cities  of 
Judah, 

Shall  the  flocks  pass  yet  again 

Under  the  hands  of  him  that  numbereth  them,  saith  Jeho- 
vah. 

14  Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah, 
That  I  will  perform  that  good  thing 

Which  I  have  spoken  concerning  the  house  of  Israel, 
And  concerning  the  house  of  Judah. 

15  In  those  days  and  at  that  time 

Will  I  cause  to  grow  up  from  David  a  righteous  branch, 
Who  shall  maintain  justice  and  equity  in  the  land. 

16  In  those  days  shall  Judah  be  saved. 
And  Jerusalem  shall  dwell  securely ; 

And  this  is  the  name  which  shall  be  given  her,  Jehovah- 
is-our-salvation. 

17  For  thus  saith  Jehovah : 

There  shall  never  fail  from  David 

A  man  to  sit  upon  the  throne  of  the  house  of  Israel ; 

18  Neither  from  the  priests  and  the  Levites 
Shall  a  man  fail  before  me. 

To  offer  burnt-offerings,  and  to  kindle  meat-offerings, 
And  to  perform  sacrifice  continually. 

19  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  Jeremiah  and  said, 

20  Thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

If  ye  can  break  my  covenant  concerning  the  day, 
And  my  covenant  concerning  the  night. 
So  that  there  sliall  no  more  be  day  and  night  in  their  sea* 
son. 


88  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XXXIV. 

21  Then  also  may  my  covenant  with  David  my  servant  be 

broken, 
So  that  he  shall  not  have  a  son  to  reign  upon  his  throne, 
And  with  the  Levites,  the  priests,  my  servants. 

22  As  the  host  of  heaven  cannot  be  numbered, 
Nor  the  sand  of  the  sea  measured. 

So  will  I  multiply  the  posterity  of  David  my  servant, 
And  the  Levites  who  minister  to  me. 

23  The  word  of  Jehovah  came  also  to  Jeremiah,  saying : 

24  Seest  thou  not  what  this  people  speaketh,  saying, 

"  The  two  families,  which  Jehovah  chose,  he  hath  cast  off"  ? 
Therefore  they  despise  my  people,  • 

So  that  they  are  no  more  a  people  in  their  eyes. 

25  Thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

If  my  covenant  concerning  the  day  and  the  night  be  not 

maintained, 
And  if  I  have  not  established  the  ordinances  of  the  heaven 

and  the  earth, 

26  Then  will  I  cast  away  the  posterity  of  Jacob,  and  of  Da- 

vid, my  servant, 
So  as  not  to  take  of  his  posterity  to  be  rulers 
Over  the  posterity  of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob; 
For  I  will  bring  them  back  from  their  captivity, 
And  have  mercy  upon  them. 


XXXI. 

Concerning  Zedeklah.  —  Ch.  XXXIV.  1-7. 

The  word  which  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah,  when 
Nebuchadnezzar,  king  of  Babylon,  and  all  his  army,  and 
all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  that  were  under  his  domin- 
ion, and  all  the  nations,  made  war  against  Jerusalem,  and 
against  all  the  cities  thereof,  saying :  — 

Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel :  Go  and  speak 
to  Zedekiah,  the  king  of  Judah,  and  say  to  him,  Thus 
saith  Jehovah  :  Behold,  I  will  give  this  city  into  the  hand 
of  the  king  of  Babylon,  and  he  shall  burn  it  with  fire. 


en.  XXXIV.]       .  JEREMIAH.  89 

3  And  thou  slialt  not  escape  out  of  his  hand,  but  shalt  surely 
be  taken  and  delivered  into  his  hand ;  and  thine  eyes  shall 
behold  the  eyes  of  the  king  of  Babylon,  and  he  shall  speak 
with  thee  mouth  to  mouth,  and  thou  shalt  go  to  Babylon. 

4  Yet  hear  the  word  of  Jehovah,  0  Zedekiah,  king  of  Ju- 
dah !     Thus  saith  Jehovah  concerning  thee :    Thou  shalt 

5  not  die  by  the  sword ;  in  peace  shalt  thou  die ;  and  ac- 
cording to  the  burnings  of  thy  fathers,  tlie  former  kings, 
who  were  before  thee,  so  shall  they  burn  for  thee ;  and 
they  shall  lament  for  thee,  saying,  "  Ah,  lord  !  "  for  I  have 
spoken  the  word,  saith  Jehovah. 

6  And  Jeremiah   the  prophet   spake  all  these  words  to 

7  Zedekiah,  king  of  Judah,  at  Jerusalem.  And  the  army 
of  the  king  of  Babylon  fought  against  Jerusalem,  and 
against  all  the  cities  of  Judah  that  were  left,  against  La- 
chish,  and  against  Azekah ;  for  these  fortified  cities  re- 
mained of  the  cities  of  Judah. 


XXXII. 

.Against  reducing  again  to  slavery  Hebrews,  to  whom  freedom  had  been 
proclaimed.  —  Ch.  XXXIV.  8  -  22. 

8  The  word  which  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah,  after 
King  Zedekiah  had  made  a  covenant  with  all  the  people 

9  that  were  at  Jerusalem,  to  proclaim  liberty  to  them,  that 
every  one  should  let  his  man-servant  or  his  maid-servant, 
being   a    Hebrew    or   Hebrewess,  go  free,   that   no    one 

10  should  retain  his  brother,  a  Jew,  in  servitude.  And  all 
the  princes,  and  all  the  people,  who  had  entered  into  cove- 
nant to  let  every  one  his  man-servant  and  every  one  his 
maid-servant  go  free,   and  retain   them  in   servitude  no 

11  longer,  obeyed;  they  obeyed,  and  let  them  go.  But 
they  returned  afterwards,  and  took  back  the  men-servants 
and  the  maid-servants  whom  they  had  let  go  free,  and 
brought  them  into  subjection  as  men-servants  and  as 
maid-servants. 

12  Then  came  the  word  of  Jehovah  to  Jeremiah  from  Je- 


90  JEREMIAH.  [cH.  xxxir. 

13  hovab,  saying,  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel :  I 
made  a  covenant  with  your  fathers  in  the  day  when  I 
brought  them  forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  out  of  the 

1 1  house  of  bondmen,  and  said,  "  At  the  end  of  seven  years 
ye  shall  let  go  every  man  his  brother,  a  Hebrew,  who  shall 
have  been  sold  to  thee ;  when  he  shall  have  served  thee 
six  years,  thou  shalt  let  him  go  free  from  thee."    But  your 

15  fathers  hearkened  not  to  me,  nor  inclined  their  ear.  And 
when  ye  had  turned  at  this  time,  and  had  done  what  was 
right  in  mine  eyes,  in  proclaiming  liberty  every  one  to  his 
neighbor,  and  had  entered  into  a  covenant  before  me  in  the 

16  house  which  is  called  by  my  name,  then  ye  returned  and 
profaned  my  name,  and  took  back  every  one  his  man-ser- 
vant, and  every  one  his  maid-servant,  whom  he  had  set  at 
liberty  at  their  pleasure,  and  brought  them  into  subjection 
to  be  men-servants  and  maid-servants  to  you. 

17  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah:  Ye  have  not  hearkened 
to  me  in  proclaiming  liberty  every  one  to  his  brother,  and 
every  one  to  his  neighbor.  Behold,  I  proclaim  a  liberty 
for  you,  saith  Jehovah,  to  the  sword,  to  pestilence,  and 
to  famine,  and  I  will  give  you  up  to  oppression  in  all  the 

18  kingdoms  of  the  earth  ;  and  I  will  make  the  men  who 
have  transgressed  my  covenant,  who  have  not  performed 
the  words  of  the  covenant  whicii  they  made  before  me, 
like  the  calf  which  they  cut  in  twain,  and  passed  between 

19  the  parts  thereof,  the  princes  of  Judah,  and  the  princes  of 
Jerusalem,  the  eunuchs,  and  the  priests,  and  all  the  people 

20  of  the  land,  that  passed  between  the  parts  of  the  calf.  I 
will  give  them  into  the  hand  of  their  enemies,  and  into 
the  hand  of  them  that  seek  their  life ;  and  their  dead 
bodies  shall  be  food  for  the  birds  of  heaven,  and  for  the 

21  beasts  of  the  earth.  And  Zedekiah,  king  of  Judah,  and 
his  princes,  will  I  give  into  the  hand  of  their  enemies,  and 
into  the  hand  of  them  that  seek  their  life,  even  into  the 
hand  of  the  king  of  Babylon's  army,  which  are  gone  up 

22  from  you.  Behold,  I  will  command,  saith  Jehovah,  and 
cause  them  to  return  to  this  city,  and  they  shall  fight 
against  it,  and  take  it,  and  burn  it  with  fire ;  and  I  will 
make  the  cities  of  Judah  a  desolation  without  an  inhab- 
itant. 


CH.  IXXV.I  JEEEMIAH.  91 


xxxni. 

The  Jews  reproved  for  disobedience  by  the  example  of  the  Ro- 
chabites.  —  Ch.  XXXV. 

1  The  word  which  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah,  in 
the  days  of  Jehoiakim,  the  son  of  Josiah,  king  jjf  Judah, 

2  saying :  Go  to  the  house  of  the  Rechabites,  and  speak  to 
them,  and  bring  them  into  the  house  of  Jehovah,  into  one 

3  of  the  chambers,  and  give  them  wine  to  drink.  Then  I 
took  Jaazaniah,  the  son  of  Jeremiah,  the  son  of  Habazi- 
niah,  and  his  brethren,  and  all  his  sons,  and  the  whole 

4  house  of  the  Rechabites,  and  brought  them  into  the  house 
of  Jehovah,  into  the  chamber  of  the  sons  of  Hanan,  the 
son  of  Igdaliah,  a  man  of  God,  which  was  by  the  chamber 
of  the  princes,  which  was  above  the  chamber  of  Maaseiah, 

5  the  son  of  Shallum,  the  keeper  of  the  door.  And  I  set 
before  the  sons  of  the  house  of  the  Rechabites  pots  full  of 
wine  and  cups,  and  I  said  to  them,  "  Drink   ye  wine." 

6  But  they  said,  "  We  will  not  drink  wine  ;  for  Jouadab,  the 
son   of  Rechab,   our  father,   commanded  us,  saying.   Ye 

7  shall  drink  no  wine,  ye  nor  your  sons,  forever ;  neither 
shall  ye  build  house,  nor  sow  seed,  nor  plant  vineyard, 
nor  have  any ;  but  all  your  days  ye  shall  dwell  in  tents, 
that  ye  may  live  long  in  the  land  wherein  ye  are  stran- 

8  gers.  And  we  have  obeyed  the  voice  of  Jonadab,  the 
son  of  Rechab,  our  father,  in  all  that  he  charged  us,  to 
drink  no  wine  all  our  days,  neither  we,  nor  our  wives, 

9  nor  our  sons,  nor  our  daughters ;  nor  to  build  houses  for 
us  to  dwell  in;  neither  have  we  vineyard,  nor  field,  nor 

10  seed ;  but  we  have  dwelt  in  tents,  and  have  obeyed,  and 
done  according  to  all  that  Jonadab,  the  son  of  Rechab, 

11  our  father,  commanded  us.  But  it  came  to  pass  when 
Nebuchadnezzar,  king  of  Babylon,  came  up  into  the  land, 
that  we  said.  Come,  and  let  us  go  to  Jerusalem  for  fear 
of  the  army  of  the  Chaldaeans,  and  for  fear  of  the  army  of 
the  Syrians ;  so  we  dwell  at  Jerusalem." 

12  Then  came  the  word  of  Jehovah  to  Jeremiah,  saying, 

13  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel:  Go 
and  say  to  the  men  of  Judah,  and  to  the  inhabitants  of 


92  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  xxxvL 

Jerusalem:  Will   ye  not  receive  instruction,  to  hearken 

14  to  my  words  ?  saitli  Jehovah.  The  words  of  Jonadab, 
the  son  of  Rechab,  in  which  he  commanded  his  sons 
not  to  drink  wine,  have  been  performed ;  for  they  have 
drunk  no  wine  to  this  day,  but  have  obeyed  the  com- 
mandment of  their  father.  I  also  have  spoken  to  you, 
rising  up  early  and  speaking,  but  ye  have  not  hearkened 

15  to  me.  And  I  have  sent  to  you  all  my  servants,  the 
prophets,  rising  up  early  and  sending  them,  saying, 
Return  ye  now  every  one  from  his  evil  way,  and  amend 
your  doings,  and  go  not  after  other  gods  to  serve  them, 
and  ye  shall  dwell  in  the  land  which  I  have  given  to 
you  and  to  your  fathers ;  but  ye  have  not  inclined  your 

16  ear,  nor  hearkened  to  me.  Since  then  the  sons  of 
Jonadab,  the  son  of  Rechab,  have  performed  the  com- 
mandment of  their  father  which    he  commanded    them, 

17  and  this  people  have  not  hearkened  to  me ;  therefore 
thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel ; 
Behold,  I  will  bring  upon  Judah,  and  upon  all  the  in- 
habitants of  Jerusalem,  all  the  evil  which  I  have  pro- 
nounced against  them ;  because  I  have  s|)oken  to  them, 
and  they  have  not  hearkened,  and  I  have  called  to 
them,  and  they  have  not  answered. 

18  And  to  the  house  of  the  Rechabites  Jeremiah  said : 
Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel:  Be- 
cause ye  have  obeyed  the  commandment  of  Jonadab, 
your  father,  and  kept  all  his  precepts,  and  done  accord- 

19  ing  to  all  which  he  commanded  you,  therefore  thus 
saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel :  There  shall 
not  fail  in  the  land  of  Jonadab,  the  son  of  Rechab, 
men  to  stand  before  me  forever. 


XXXIV. 

Jeremiah's  prophecies  written,  read  to  the  people,  burned  by  the  king,  and 
rewritten.  —  Ch.  XXXVI. 

( 

1       And  it  came  to  pass   in   the  fourth  year  of  Jehoia- 
kim,  the  son  of  Josiah,  king  of  Judah,  that   this   word 


CH.  XXXVI.]  JEREMIAH.  93 

2  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah,  saying:  Take  thee 
a  book-roll,  and  write  upon  it  all  the  words  which  I 
have  spoken  to  thee  concerning  Israel,  and  concerning 
Judah,   and    concerning    all    the    nations,  from    the  day 

3  when  I  began  to  speak  to  thee  even  to  this  day.  It 
may  be  that  the  house  of  Judah  will  hear  all  the  evil 
which  I  purpose  to  do  to  them,  and  return  every  one 
from  his  evil  way,  so  that  I  may  forgive  their  iniquity 

4  and  their  sin.  Then  Jeremiah  called  Baruch,  the  son 
of  Neriah  ;  and  Baruch  wrote  from  the  mouth  of  Jere- 
miah all  the  words  of  Jehovah  which  he  had  spoken  to 

5  him,  upon  a  book-roll.  And  Jeremiah  commanded  Ba- 
ruch and  said  :  I  am  shut  up  ;  I  cannot  go  into  the  house 

6  of  Jehovah ;  therefore,  go  thou,  and  read  in  the  roll 
which  thou  hast  written  from  my  mouth  the  words  of 
Jehovah,  in  the  ears  of  the  people,  in  the  house  of  Jeho- 
vah, upon  the  fast-day ;  also  in  the  ears  of  all  Judah,  that 

7  come  out  of  their  cities,  shalt  thou  read  them.  It  may  be 
that  they  will  prostrate  themselves  in  supplication  before 
Jehovah,  and  will  return  every  one  from  his  evil  way. 
For  great  is  the  anger  and  the  indignation  which  Jeho- 

8  vah  hath  denounced  against  this  people.  And  Baruch, 
the  son  of  Neriah,  did  according  to  all  that  Jeremiah  the 
prophet  commanded  him,  reading  in  the  book  the  words 
of  Jehovah  in  the  house  of  Jehovah. 

9  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  fifth  year  of  Jehoiakim,  the 
son  of  Josiah,  king  of  Judah,  in  the  ninth  month,  that  all 
the  people  in  Jerusalem,  and  all  the  people  that  came  out 
of  the  cities  of  Judah,  proclaimed  a  fast  before  Jehovah, 

10  in  Jerusalem.  Then  read  Baruch  in  the  book  the  words 
of  Jeremiah  in  the  house  of  Jehovah,  in  the  chamber  of 
Gemariah,  the  son  of  Shaphan  the  scribe,  in  the  higher 
court,  at  the  entrance  of  the  new  gate  of  the  house  of 
Jehovah,  in  the  ears  of  all  the  people. 

11  And  when  Micah,  the  son  of  Gemariah,  the  son  of 
Shaphan,  had  heard  from  cfie  book  all  the  words  of  Jeho- 

12  vah,  he  went  down  to  the  king's  house,  into  the  scribe's 
chamber ;  and  lo,  all  the  princes  were  sitting  there,  Eli- 
shama  the  scribe,  and  Delaiah,  the  son  of  Shemaiah,  and 
Elnathan,  the  son  of  Achbor,  and  Gemariah,  the  sou  of 


94 


JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XXX7I. 


Shaphan,  and  Zedekiah,  the  son  of  Hananiah,  and  all  the 

13  princes.  Tlien  Micah  declared  to  them  all  the  words 
which  he  had  heard  when  Baruch  read  the  book  in  the 

14  ears  of  the  people.  Then  all  the  princes  sent  Jehudi,  the 
son  of  Nethaniah,  the  son  of  Shelemiah,  the  son  of 
Cushi,  to  Baruch,  and  said,  "  Take  in  thy  hand  the  roll 
w^herein  thou  hast  read  in  the  ears  of  the  people,  and 
come."     So  Baruch,  the  son  of  Neriah,  took  the  roll  in 

15  his  hand,  and  came  to  them.  And  they  said  to  him, 
"Sit  down  now,  and  read  it  in  our  ears.".    And  Baruch 

16  read  it  in  their  ears.  And  when  they  had  heard  all  the 
words,  they  looked  with  consternation  upon  one  another, 
and  they  said  to  Baruch,  "  We  must  tell  the  king  of  all 

17  these  things."  And  they  asked  Baruch,  saying,  "  Tell  us 
now,   how    didst    thou    write    all    these   words    from    his 

18  mouth  ? "  And  Baruch  said  to  them,  "  With  his  mouth 
he  pronounced  to  me  all  these  words,  and  J  wrote  them 

19  on  the  book  with  ink."  Then  said  the  princes  to  Baruch, 
*'  Go,  hide  thee,  thou  and  Jeremiah,  and  let  no  man  know 
where  ye  are." 

20  And  they  went  in  to  the  king  into  the  court ;  but  they 
laid  up  the  roll  in  the  chamber  of  Elishama  the  scribe, 
and  they  told  all  these  things  in  the  ears  of  the  king. 

21  Then  the  king  sent  Jehudi  to  fetch  the  roll,  and  he  took 
it  out  of  the  cliamber  of  Elishama  the  scribe ;  and 
Jehudi  read  it  in  the  ears  of  the  king,  and  in  the  ears  of 

22  all  the  princes  who  stood  beside  the  king.  And  the  king 
was  sitting  in  the  winter-house,  in  the  ninth  month,  and  a 

23  brasier  was  burning  before  him.  And  when  Jehudi  had 
read  three  or  four  sections,  he  [the  king]  cut  it  with  the 
penknife,  and  cast  it  into  the  lii-e,  into  the  brasier,  until 
the  whole  roll  was  consumed  in  the  tire  in  the  brasier. 

24  And  they  were  not  afraid,  and  rent  not  their  garments, 
neither  the  king,  nor  any  of  his  servants,  who  heard  all 

25  these  words ;  and  although  Elnathan  and  Delaiah  and 
Gemariah  interceded  with  the  king  not  to  burn  the  roll, 

26  yet  he  would  not  hearken  to  them.  And  the  king  com- 
manded Jerahmeel,  the  son  of  Hammelech,  and  Seraiah, 
the  son  of  Azreel,  and  Shelemiah,  the  son  of  Abdeel,  to 
seize  Baruch  tiie  scribe,  and  Jeremiah  the  prophet ;  but 
Jehovah  had  hid  them. 


CH.  XXX VII. J  JEREMIAH.  95 

27  Then  came  the  word  of  Jehovah  to  Jeremiah,  after 
that  the  king  had  burned  the  roll,  and  the  words  which 
Baruch  had  written  from  the  mouth  of  Jeremiah,  saying : 

28  Take  thee  another  roll,  and  write  in  it  all  the  former 
words  that  were  in  the  first  roll,  which  Jehoiakim,  king 

29  6f  Judah,  hath  burned.  And  concerning  Jehoiakim,  king 
of  Judah,  thou  shalt  say,  Thou  hast  burned  this  roll,  say- 
ing, "  Why  hast  thou  written  therein  and  said.  The  king 
of  Babylon  shall  surely  come  and  shall  destroy  this  laud, 

30  and  shall  cause  to  cease  from  it  man  and  beast  ?  "  There- 
fore thus  saith  Jehovah  concerning  Jehoiakim,  king  of 
Judah :  He  shall  have  not  one  to  sit  upon  the  throne  of 
David  ;  and  his  dead  body  shall  be  cast  out  in  the  day  to 

31  the  heat,  and  in  the  night  to  the  frost.  And  T  will  punish 
him,  and  his  offspring,  and  his  servants,  for  their  iniquity ; 
and  I  will  bring  upon  them,  and  upon  the  inhabitants  of 
Jerusalem,  and  upon  the  men  of  Judah,  all  the  evil  which 
I  have  pronounced  against  them,  and  they  have  not  heark- 

32  ened.  Then  Jeremiah  took  another  roll,  and  gave  it  to 
Baruch  the  scribe,  the  son  of  jSTeriah,  who  wrote  therein 
from  the  mouth  of  Jeremiah  all  the  words  of  the  book 
which  Jehoiakim  had  burned  in  the  fire ;  and  there  were 
added  to  them  many  words  of  the  same  kind. 


XXXV. 

Jeremiah  arrested,  and  charged  with  treason.  —  Ch.  XXXVII. 

1  Now  King  Zedekiah,  the  son  of  Josiah,  reigned  instead 
of  Coniah,  the  son  of  Jehoiakim,  whom  Nebuchadnezzar, 

2  king  of  Babylon,  made  king  in  the  land  of  Judah.  But 
neither  he  nor  his  servants  nor  the  people  of  the  land 
regarded  the  words  of  Jehovah,  which  he  spake  by  the 
prophet  Jeremiah. 

3  And  Zedekiah  the  king  sent  Jehucal,  the  son  of  Shele- 
miah,  and  Zephaniah,  the  son  of  Maaseiah  the  priest,  to 
Jeremiah  the  prophet,  saying,  "  Pray  now  to  Jehovah  our 

4  God  for  us."     Now  Jeremiah  came  in  and  went  out  among 

5  the  peoph,  for  they  had  not  cast  him  into  prison.     And 


96  J  E  Pv  E  M I A  H .  [CH.  XXXVII. 

Pharaoli's  army  Iiad  come  forth  out  of  Egypt;  and  the 
Chaldaeans,  who  were  besieging  Jerusalem,  having  heard 
tidings  of  them,  had  departed  from  Jerusalem. 

6  Then  came  the  word  of  Jehovah  to  Jeremiah  the  proph- 

7  et,  saying,  Thus  saitli  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel :  Thus 
shall  ye  say  to  the  king  of  Judah,  who  sent  you  to  inquire 
of  me  :  Behold,  the  army  of  Pharaoh,  which  is  come  forth 
to  help  you,  shall  return  to  Egypt,  into  their  own  land. 

8  And  the  Chaldaeans  shall  come  again,  and  fight  against  this 

9  city,  and  take  it,  and  burn  it  with  fire.  Thus  saitli  Jeho- 
vah :  Deceive  not  yourselves,  saying,  "  The  Chaldaeans 
shall  surely  depart  from  us " ;  for  they  shall  not  depart. 

10  For  though  ye  had  smitten  the  whole  army  of  the  Chal- 
daeans that  fight  against  you,  and  there  remained  only 
wounded  men  among  them,  each  one  in  his  tent,  yet  should 
they  rise  up  and  burn  this  city  with  fire. 

11  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  army  of  the  Chaldceans 
had  marched  away  from  Jerusalem  because  of  the  army 

12  of  Pharaoh,  that  Jeremiah  was  going  forth  from  Jerusalem, 
to  go  into  the  land  of  Benjamin,  to  receive  thence  his  in- 

13  heritance  among  the  people.  And  when  he  was  in  the 
gate  of  Benjamin,  a  captain  of  the  ward  was  there,  whose 
name  was  Irijah,  the  son  of  Shelemiah,  the  son  of  Ilana- 
niali ;  and  he  seized  Jeremiah  the  prophet,  saying,  "  Thou 

14  art  going  over  to  the  Chaldceans."  And  Jeremiah  said, 
"  It  is  false  ;  I  am  not  going  over  to  the  Chaldaeans."  But 
he  hearkened   not  to   him ;  so  Irijah  took  Jeremiah  and 

15  brought  him  to  the  princes.  And  the  princes  were  en- 
raged against  Jeremiah,  and  smote  him,  and  put  him  in 
prison  in  the  house  of  Jonathan  the  scribe ;  for  they  had 
made  that  a  prison. 

16  And  when  Jeremiah  had  gone  into  the  dungeon,  and  in- 

17  to  the  cells,  and  had  remained  there  a  long  time,  then 
Zedekiah  the  king  sent  and  took  him  out ;  and  the  king 
asked  him  in  his  house  privately,  and  said,  "  Hast  thou 
any  word  from  Jehovah  ?  "  And  Jeremiah  said,  "  I  have." 
And  he  said,  ''  Into  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Babylon  shalt 

18  thou  be  delivered."  And  Jeremiah  said  to  King  Zedekiah, 
What  offence  have  I  committ*^d  against  thee,  or  against 


CH.  xxxviii.J  JEREMIAH.  97 

tlij  servants,  or  against  this  people,  that  je  have  put  me 

19  in  prison  ?  And  where  are  your  prophets,  who  prophe- 
sied to  you,  saying,  "  The  king  of  Babylon  shall  not  come 

20  against  you,  nor  against  this  land?"  But  now  hear,  I 
pray  thee,  my  lord  the  king !  let  my  supplication,  I  pray 
thee,  be  accepted  before  thee,  and  cause  me  not  to  return 

21  to  the  house  of  Jonathan  the  scribe,  lest  I  die  there  !  Then 
Zedekiah  the  king  commanded  that  they  should  commit 
Jeremiah  into  the  court  of  the  prison,  and  that  they  should 
give  him  daily  a  piece  of  bread  out  of  the  bakers'  street, 
until  all  the  bread  in  the  city  should  be  consumed.  And 
Jeremiah  remained  in  the  court  of  the  prison. 


XXXYI. 

Jeremiah  is  cast  into  prison  for  counselling  submission  to  the  Chaldaeans.  — 
Ch.  XXXVIII. 

1  And  Shephatiah,  the  son  of  Mattan,  and  Gedaliah,  the 
son  of  Pashur,  and  Jucal,  the  son  of  Shelemiah,  and  Pa- 
shur,  the  son  of  Malchiah,  heard  the  words  which  Jeremi- 

2  ah  spoke  to  all  the  people,  saying,  "  Thus  saith  Jehovah : 
He  that  remaineth  in  this  city  shall  die  by  the  sword,  by 
famine,  and  by  pestilence ;  but  he  that  goeth  forth  to  the 
Chaldaeans  shall  live,  and  he  shall  retain  his  life  as  a  prey, 

3  and  shall  live.  Thus  saith  Jehovah  :  This  city  shall  surely 
be  given  into  the  hand  of  the  army  of  the  king  of  Babylon, 

4  and  he  shall  take  it."  Then  said  the  princes  to  the  king, 
"  We  beseech  thee,  let  this  man  be  put  to  death !  for  thus 
he  weaken eth  the  hands  of  the  men  of  war  that  remain  in 
this  city,  and  the  hands  of  all  the  people,  in  speaking  such 
Avords  to  them ;  for  this  man  seeketh  not  the  welfare  of 

5  this  people,  but  their  hurt."  Then  Zedekiah  the  king 
said,  "  Behold,  he  is  in  your  hand  ;  for  the  king  is  not  one 

6  that  can  do  anything  in  opposition  to  you."  Then  took 
they  Jeremiah,  and  cast  him  into  the  dungeon  of  Malchiah, 
the  son  of  Hammelech,  which  was  in  the  court  of  the  pris- 
on ;  and  they  let  down  Jeremiah  with  cords.  And  in  the 
dungeon  there  was  no  water,  but  only  mire  ;  and  Jeremiah 
sunk  in  the  mire, 

VOL,  n,  5 


98 


JEREMIAH.  [cii.  XXXVIII. 


7  And  Ebedmelech,  the  Ethiopian,  a  eunuch,  who  waa 
then  in  the  king's  house,  heard  that  they  had  put  Jeremiah 
into  the  dungeon ;  and  the  king  was  sitting  in  the  gate  of 

8  Benjamin.     Then  Ebedmelech  went  forth  out  of  the  king's 

9  house,  and  spake  to  the  king,  saying,  "  My  lord  the  king  I 
the.-e  men  have  done  evil  in  all  that  they  have  done  to 
Jeremiah  the  prophet  whom  they  have  cast  into  the  dun- 
geon ;   for  he  was  already  almost  dead  in   his  place  for 

10  hunger ;  for  there  is  no  more  bread  in  the  city."  Then 
the  king  commanded  Ebedmelech,  the  Ethiopian,  saying, 
"  Take  along  with  thee  thirty  men  from  hence,  and  take 
up  Jeremiah  the  prophet  out  of  the  dungeon,  before  he 

11  die."  And  Ebedmelech  took  the  men  with  him,  and  went 
into  the  king's  house  under  the  store-room,  and  took  from 
thence  torn  rags  and  worn-out  rags,  and  let  them  down  by 

12  cords  into  the  dungeon  to  Jeremiah.     And  Ebedmelech, 
•    the  Ethiopian,  said  to  Jeremiah,  put  now  these  torn  and 

worn-out  rags  under  thy  knuckles  under  the  cords.     And 

13  Jeremiah  did  so.  And  they  drew  up  Jeremiah  with  cords, 
and  took  him  up  out  of  the  dungeon  ;  and  Jeremiah  re- 
mained in  the  court  of  the  prison. 

14  And  King  Zedekiah  sent,  and  took  Jeremiah  the  proph- 
et to  him  into  the  third  entrance,  which  is  in  the  house  of 
Jehovah ;  and  the  king  said  to  Jeremiah,  "  I  will  ask  thee 

15  a  question  ;  liide  nothing  from  me  !  "  And  Jeremiah  said 
to  Zedekiah,  "  When  I  have  told  thee,  wilt  thou  not  surely 
put  me  to  death  ?  and  if  I  give  thee  counsel,  thou  wilt  not 

16  hearken  to  me."     Then  King  Zedekiah  swore  to  Jeremia' 
in  secret,  saying,  "  As  Jehovah  liveth,  who  made  for  us 
this  soul,  I  will  not  put  thee  to  death,  neither  will  I  give 

17  thee  into  the  hand  of  these  men  that  seek  thy  life."  Then 
said  Jeremiah  to  Zedekiah,  "  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts, 
the  God  of  Israel :  If  thou  wilt  go  forth  to  the  chieftains 
of  the  king  of  Babylon,  then  shalt  thou  live  ;  and  this  city 
shall  not  be  burntid  with  fire  ;  and  thou  shalt  live,  thou  and 

18  thine  house.  But  if  thou  wilt  not  go  forth  to  the  chieftains 
of  the  king  of  Babylon,  then  shall  this  city  be  given  into 
the  hand  of  the  Chaldaeans,  and  they  shall  burn  it  with  fire, 

19  and  thou  shalt  not  escape  out  of  their  hand."  And  Zede- 
kiah the  king  said  to  Jeremiah,  "  I  am  afraid  of  the  Jews 
who  have  gone  over  to  the  Cha'dieans,  lest  I  should  be  de- 


CH.  XXXIX.]  JEREMIAH.  99 

20  livered  into  their  hand,  and  they  should  mock  me."  And 
Jeremiah  said,  "  Thou  shalt  not  be  delivered  up  to  them. 
Obey,  I  beseech  thee,  the  voice  of  Jehovah  in  what  I 
speak  to  thee ;  so  shall  it  be  well  with  thee,  and  thou  shalt 

21  live.     But  if  thou  refuse  to  go  forth,  this  is  what  Jehovah 

22  hath  revealed  to  me.  Behold,  all  the  women  that  are  left 
in  the  house  of  the  king  of  judah  shall  be  brought  forth 
to  the  chieftains  of  the  king  of  Babylon,  and  shall  say, 
'  Thy  friends  have  set  thee  on,  and  have  prevailed  against 
thee  ;  thy  feet  are  sunk  in  the  mire ;  they  go  backward.' 

23  And  all  thy  wives  and  thy  children  shall  they  bring  out  to 
the  Chaldasans,  and  thou  shalt  not  escape  out  of  their  hand, 
but  by  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Babylon  shalt  thou  be  tak- 
en ;  and  thou  shalt  cause  this  city  to  be  burned  with  fire.'* 

24  Then  said  Zedekiah  to  Jeremiah,   "  Let  no  man  know  of 
2-5  these  words,  and  thou  shalt  not  die.     But  if  the  princes 

shall  hear  that  I  have  talked  with  thee,  and  shall  come  to 
thee,  and  say  to  thee,  '  Tell  us,  we  pray  thee,  what  thou 
hast  said  to  the  king ;  hide  it  not  from  us,  and  we  will  not 
put  thee  to  death;  and  what  the  king  hath  said  to  thee'; 

26  then  shalt  thou  say  to  them,  '  I  presented  my  supplication 
before  the  king,  that  he  would  not  cause  me  to  return  to 

27  the  house  of  Jonathan  to  die  there.' "  Then  came  all  the 
princes  to  Jeremiah,  and  asked  him ;  and  he  told  them  ac- 
cording to  all  those  words  which  the  king  had  commanded. 
And  they  said  no  more  to  him,  for  the  matter  was  not 

28  known.  And  Jeremiah  remained  in  the  court  of  the  pris- 
on to  the  day  when  Jerusalem  was  taken. 


xxxvn. 

The  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  and  what  happened  to  the  king,  and  to 
Jeremiah.  —  Ch.  XXXIX. 

1  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Jerusalem  was  taken,  (in 
the  ninth  year  of  Zedekiah,  the  king  of  Judah,  in  the 
tenth  month,  came  Nebuchadnezzar,  the  king  of  Babylon, 

2  and  all  his  army,  against  Jerusalem,  and  besieged  it ;  and 
in  the  eleventh  year  of  Zedekiah,  in  the  fourth  month,  on 


100  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XXXIX. 

the  ninth  day  of  the  month,  was  the  city  broken  into,) 

3  that  all  the  chieftains  of  the  king  of  Babylon  came,  and 
stationed  themselves  in  the  middle  gate,  Kergalsharezer, 
Samgarnebo,  Sarsechim,  prefect  of  the  eunuchs,  Nergal- 
sharezer,  prefect  of  the  magians,  and  all  the  rest  of  the 

4  princes  of  the  king  of  Babylon.  And  when  Zedekiah,  the 
king  of  Judah,  and  all  the  men  of  war,  saw  them,  they  fled, 
and  went  forth  out  of  the  city  by  night,  by  the  way  of 
the    king's    garden,  through    the    gate   between  the  two 

5  walls ;  and  they  went  forth  toward  the  plain.  But  the 
army  of  the  Chaldteans  pursued  them,  and  overtook  Zede- 
kiah in  the  plains  of  Jericho ;  and  they  took  him,  and 
brought  him  to  Nebuchadnezzar,  king  of  Babylon,  at 
Riblah  in  the  land  of  Hamnth,  where  he  gave  judgment 

6  concerning  him.  And  the  king  of  Babylon  slew  the  so'\:5 
of  Zedekiah  at  Riblah  before  his  eyes ;  and  all  the  nobles 

7  of  Judah  did  the  king  of  Babylon  slay.  And  he  put  out 
the  eyes  of  Zedekiah,  and  bound  him  with  fetters  of  brass, 

8  to  carry  him  to  Babylon.  And  the  Clialdasans  burned 
the  king's  house,  and  the  houses  of  the  people,  with  fire, 

9  and  they  broke  down  the  walls  of  Jerusalem.  And  the 
residue  of  the  people  that  remained  in  the  city,  and  the 
deserters  who  had  come  over  to  him,  the  residue  of  the  peo- 
ple that  remained,  Nebuzaradan,  the  captain  of  the  guard, 

10  carried  away  to  Babylon.  But  the  poor  of  the  people, 
who  had  nothing,  Nebuzaradan,  captain  of  the  guard,  left 
in  the  land  of  Judah,  and  gave  them  vineyards  and  fields 
at  the  same  time. 

11  And  Nebuchadnezzar,  king  of  Babylon,  gave  charge 
concerning    Jeremiah    to    Nebuzaradan,   captain    of    the 

12  guard,  saying,  "  Take  him,  and  have  thine  eyes  upon  him, 
and  do  him  no  harm  ;  but  do  to  him  even  as  he  shall  say 

13  to  you."  Then  sent  Nebuzaradan,  the  captain  of  the 
guard,  and  Nebushasban,  prefect  of  the  eunuchs,  and  Ner- 
galsharezer,  prefect  of  the  magians,  and  all  the  princes  of 

14  the  king  of  Babylon,  they  sent  and  took  Jeremiah  out  of 
the  court  of  the  prison,  and  committed  him  to  Gedaliah, 
the  son  of  Ahikam,  the  son  of  Shaphan,  that  he  should 
carry  him  home;  and  he  dwelt  among  the  people. 

15  Now  the  word  of  Jehovah  had  come  to  Jeremiah,  while 


CH.  XL.]  JEREMIAH.  101 

16  he  was  shut  np  in  the  court  of  the  prison,  saying :  Go 
and  8peak  to  Ebedmelech,  the  Ethiopian,  and  say :  Thus 
saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel:  Behold,  I 
bring  my  words  upon  this  city  for  evil  and  not  for  good, 
and  with  thine  own  eyes  shalt  thou  see  it  in  that  day. 

17  But  I  will  deliver  thee  in  that  day,  saith  Jehovah ;  and 
thou  shalt  not  be  given  into  the  hand  of  the  men  of  whom 

18  thou  art  afraid.  But  I  will  surely  deliver  thee,  and  thou 
shalt  not  fall  by  the  sword,  but  thy  life  shall  be  to  thee  as 
a  prey ;  because  thou  hast  put  thy  trust  in  me,  saith 
Jehovah. 


XXXYIIL 

Jeremiah    set  at  liberty.    Conspiracy  against   Gedaliah.    His  death.— 
Ch.  XL.,  XLI. 

1  The  word  which  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah,  after 
that  Nebuzaradan,  captain  of  the  guard,  had  let  him  go 
from  Ramah.  For  he  had  taken  him,  and  he  had  been 
bound  with  chains  among  all  the  captives  of  Jerusalem 
and  Judah  which  were  carried  away  captive  to  Baby- 
lon. 

2  And  the  captain  of  the  guard  took  Jeremiah,  and  said 
to  him:  "Jehovah,  thy  God,  pronounced  this  evil  against 

3  this  place ;  and  now  Jehovah  hath  brought  it,  and  done 
according  as  he  spake,  because  ye  sinned  against  Jehovah, 
and  obeyed  not  his  voice ;  therefore  hath  this  thing  come 

4  upon  you.  And  now,  behold,  I  loose  thee  this  day  from 
the  chains  upon  thy  hands.  If  it  seem  good  to  thee  to 
come  with  me  to  Babylon,  come ;  and  I  will  set  my  eyes 
upon  thee ;  but  if  it  seem  evil  to  thee  to  come  with  me  to 
Babylon,  forbear ;  behold,  the  whole  land  is  before  thee ; 
whither  it  seemeth  good  and  desirable  for  thee  to  go, 

5  thitlier  go."     And  while  he  was  not  yet  gone  away  [he 

said]  :  '•  Go  to  Gedaliah,  the  of  son  Ahikam,  the  son  oif 
Shaphan,  whom  the  king  of  Babylon  hath  made  governor 
over  the  cities  of  Judah,  and  dwell  with  him  among  the 


102  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XL. 

people ;  or  go  whithersoever  it  seemeth  good  to  thee  to 
go."     And  the  captain  of  the  guard  gave  him  provisions, 

6  and  a  present,  and  dismissed  him.  And  Jeremiah  went 
to  Gedahah,  the  son  of  Ahikam,  to  Mizpah,  and  dwelt 
with  him  among  the  people  that  were  left  in  the  land. 

7  Now  when  all  the  captains  of  the  forces  which  were  in 
the  fields,  they  and  their  men,  heard  that  the  king  of 
Babylon  had  made  Gedahah,  the  son  of  Ahikam,  gov- 
ernor over  the  land,  and  had  committed  to  his  charge 
men  and  women  and  children,  of  the  poor  of  the  land, 
of  them  that  were  not  carried  away  captive  to  Babylon, 

8  then  they  came  to  Gedaliah,  to  Mizpah ;  namely,  Ishmael, 
the  son  of  Nethaniah,  and  Johanan  and  Jonathan,  the 
sons  of  Kareah,  and  Seraiah,  tlie  son  of  Tanhumeth,  and 
the  sons  of  Ephai  the  Netophathite,  and  Jezaniah,  the  son 

9  of  the  Maachathite,  they  and  their  men ;  and  Gedaliah, 
the  son  of  Ahikam,  the  son  of  Shaphan,  swore  to  them 
and  to  their  men,  saying,  "  Fear  not  to  serve  the  Chal- 
daeans ;  dwell  in  the  land,  and  serve  the  king  of  Babylon, 

10  and  it  shall  be  well  with  you.  As  for  me,  behold,  I  will 
dwell  at  Mizpah,  to  stand  before  the  Chaldteans,  who 
shall  come  to  us ;  but  ye,  gather  ye  in  wine,  and  summer 
fruits,  and  oil,  and  put  them  in  your  vessels,  and  dwell  in 

11  your  cities  which  ye  have  taken."  Also  when  all  the 
Jews  that  were  in  Moab,  and  among  the  children  of 
Ammon,  and  in  Edom,  and  that  were  in  all  the  countries, 
heard  that  the  king  of  Babylon  had  left  a  remnant  to 
Judah,  and  that  he  had  set  over  them  Gedaliah,  the  son 

12  of  Ahikam,  tl>e  son  of  Shaphan,  then  all  the  Jews  re- 
turned from  all  the  places  whither  they  were  driven,  and 
came  to  the  land  of  Judah,  to  Gedaliah,  to  Mizpah,  and 
gathered  wine  and  summer  fruits  in  abundance. 

13  And  Johanan,  the  son  of  Kareah,  and  all  the  captains 
of  the  forces  that  were  in  the  fields,  came  to  Gedaliah,  to 

14  Mizpah,  and  said  to  him,  ''Dost  thou  know  that  Baalis, 
tlie  king  of  the  children  of  Ammon,  hath  sent  Ishmael, 
the  son  of  Nethaniah,  to  slay  thee?"     But  Gedaliah,  the 

la  sou  of  Ahikam,  believed  them  not.  And  Johanan,  the 
son  of  Kareah,  spake  to  Gedaliah  in  private  at  Mizpah, 
saying,  "  Let  me  go,  I  pray  thee,  and  smite  Ishmael,  the 


Cil    XLi.j  JEREMIAH.  103 

son  of  Nethaniah,  and  no  man  shall  know  it.  Wherefore 
should  he  slay  thee,  that  all  the  Jews  which  are  gathered 
to  thee  should  be  scattered,  and  the  remnant  in  Judah 
)  J  perish  ? "  But  Gedaliah,  the  son  of  Aiiikam,  said  to 
Johanan,  the  son  of  Kareah,  "  Thou  shalt  not  do  this 
thing,  for  thou  speakest  falsely  of  Ishmael." 

1  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  seventh  month,  that  Ish- 
mael, the  son  of  Nethaniah,  the  son  of  Elishama,  of  the 
blood  royal,  and  one  of  the  great  ollicers  of  the  king,  and 
ten  men  with  him,  came  to  Gedaliah,  the  son  of  Ahikam, 
to  Mizpah ;  and  they  ate  bread  there  together  in  Mizpah. 

2  Then  Ishmael,  the  son  of  Nethaniali,  arose,  and  the  ten 
men  that  were  with  him,  and  smote  Gedaliah,  the  son  of 
Ahikam,  the  son  of  Shaphan,  with  the  sword,  and  slew 
him  whom  the  king  of  Babylon  had  made  governor  over 

3  the  land.  And  all  the  Jews  that  were  with  him,  with 
Gedaliah  at  Mizpah,  and  the  Chaldoeans  that  were  found 

4  there,  the  men  of  war,  did  Ishmael  smite.  And  it  came 
to  pass,  the  second  day  after  he  had  slain  Gedaliah,  and 

5  no  man  knew  it,  that  there  came  certain  men  from  She- 
chem,  from  Shiloh,  and  from  Samaria,  fourscore  persons, 
having  their  beards  shaven,  and  their  clothes  rent,  and 
having  cut  themselves,  with  an  oblation  and  incense  in 

6  their  hands,  to  bring  to  the  house  of  Jehovah.  And  Ish- 
mael, the  son  of  Nethaniah,  went  forth  from  Mizpah  to 
meet  them,  weeping  all  along  as  he  went ;  and  when  he 
met  them,  he  said  to  them,  "  Come  ye  to  Gedaliah,  the 

1  son  of  Ahikam."  And  when  they  had  come  into  the 
midst  of  the  city,  Ishmael,  the  son  of  Nethaniah,  slew 
them,  and  cast  them  into  the  pit,  he  and  the  men  that 

8  were  with  him.  But  ten  men  were  found  among  them 
who  said  to  Ishmael,  "  Slay  us  not,  for  we  have  hidden 
stores  in  the  field,  of  wheat,  and  barley,  and  oil,  and 
honey."     He  forbore,  therefore,  and  slew  them  not  with 

9  their  brethren.  Now  the  pit  into  which  Ishmael  cast 
all  the  dead  bodies  of  the  men  whom  he  slew,  together 
with  Gedaliah,  is  the  same  which  King  Asa  made  on 
account  of  Baasha,  king  of  Israel ;  and  Ishmael,  the  son 

10  of  Nethaniah,  filled  it  with  them  that  were  slain.  And 
Ishmael  took  captive  all  the  residue  of  the  people  that 
were  in  Mizpah,  the  king's  daughters,  and  all  the  people 


104  JEREMIAH.  [CL.XLII. 

that  remained  in  Mizpah,  whom  Nebuzaradan,  capt.tin  of 
the  guard,  had  committed  to  the  charge  of  Gedaliah,  the 
son  of  Ahikam ;  even  Ishmael,  the  son  of  Nethaniah, 
took  them  captive,  and  set  forth  to  go  over  [the  Jordan] 
to  the  children  of  Ammon. 

11  But  when  Johanan,  the  son  of  Kareah,  and  all  the  cap- 
tains of  the  forces  that  were  with  him,  heard  of  all  the 

12  evil  which  Ishmael,  the  son  of  Nethaniah,  had  done,  they 
took  all  the  men,  and  went  up  to  fight  with  Ishmael,  the 
son  of  Nethaniah,  and  came  up  with    him  at  the  great 

13  waters  that  are  in  Gibeon.  And  when  all  the  people 
whicL  were  with  Ishmael  saw  Johanan,  the  son  of  Ka- 
reah, and   all  the  captains  of  the  forces  that  were  with 

14  him,  they  were  glad ;  and  all  the  people  that  Ishmael  had 
carried  away  captive  from  Mizpah  faced  about  and  re- 

15  turned,  and  went  to  Johanan,  the  son  of  Kareah.  But 
Ishmael,  the  son  of  Nethaniah,  escaped  from  Johanan 
with   eight   men,   and  went    to  the  children  of  Ammon. 

16  Then  took  Johanan,  tiie  son  of  Kareah,  and  all  the  cap- 
tains of  the  forces  that  were  with  him,  all  the  remnant  of 
the  people  whom  he  had  recovered  from  Ishmael,  the  son 
of  Nethaniah,  from  Mizpah,  after  he  had  slain  Gedaliah, 
the  son  of  Ahikam,  strong  men,  men  of  war,  and  women, 
and  children,  and  eunuchs,  whom  he  had  brought  back 
from  Gibeon ;  and  they  went,  and  tarried  in  the  inn  of 
Chimham,  which  is  near  Bethlehem,  in  order  to  flee  into 

18  Egy})t  from  the  Chaldasans  ;  for  they  were  afraid  of  them, 
because  Ishmael,  the  son  of  Nethaniah,  had  slain  Geda- 
liah, the  son  of  Ahikam,  whom  the  king  of  Babylon  had 
made  governor  over  the  land. 


XXXIX. 

Jeremiah  counsels  the  Jews   against  going  into  I^gypt.    His  advuce  not 
followed.  —  Ch.  XUL-  XLHi.  7. 

1  And  all  the  captains  of  the  forces,  and  Johanan,  the 
son  of  Kareah,  and  Jezaniah,  the  son  of  Hoshaiah,  and 
all  the  people,  from  the  least  even  to  the  greatest,  came 


CH.  X..II.J  JEREMIAH.  105 

2  near,  and  said  to  Jeremiah  the  prophet :  "  Let,  we  beseech 
thee,  our  supplication  be  accepted  before  thee,  and  pray 
for  us  to  Jehovah,  thy  God,  for  all  this  remnant ;  (for  we 
are  left  a  few  out  of  many,  as  thine  eyes  do  behold  us ;) 

3  that  Jehovah,  thy  God,  may  show  us  the  way  wherein  we 

4  shall  walk,  and  the  thing  which  we  shall  do."  And  Jere- 
miah the  prophet  said  to  them :  "  I  have  heard ;  behold, 
I  will  pray  to  Jehovah  your  God,  according  to  your 
words,  and  all  which  Jehovah  shall  answer  you  I  will 
declare   to  'you ;    I  will   keep   back   nothing  from  you." 

5  Then  they  said  to  Jeremiah :  "  May  Jehovah  be  our  wit- 
ness, a  faithful  and  true  witness!  According  to  all  for 
which  Jehovah  our  God  shall  send  thee  to  us,  so  will  we 

6  do.  Whether  it  be  good,  or  whether  it  be  evil,  we  will 
obey  the  voice  of  Jehovah  our  God,  to  whom  we  send 
thee,  that  it  may  be  well  with  us  when  we  shall  have 

'  obeyed  the  voice  of  Jehovah  our  God." 

7  And  it  came  to  pass  after  ten  days,  that  the  word  of 

8  Jehovah  came  to  Jeremiah.  And  he  called  Johanan,  the 
son  of  Kareah,  and  all  the  captains  of  the  forces  which 
were  with  hi-m,  and  all  the  people,  from  the  least  even  to 

9  the  greatest,  and  said  to  them:  "  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the 
God  of  Israel,  to  whom  ye  sent  me  to  present  your  suppli- 

10  cation  before  him  :  If  ye  will  still  abide  in  this  land, 
then  will  I  build  you,  and  not  pull  you  down,  and  I  will 
plant  you,  and  not  pluck  you  up ;  for  I  repent  me  of  the 

11  evil  which  I  have  done  to  you.  Be  not  afraid  of  the  king 
of  Babylon,  of  whom  ye  are  afraid ;  be  not  afraid  of  him, 
saith  Jehovah ;  for  I  will  be  with  you  to  save  you,  and  to 

12  deliver  you  from  his  hand.  And  1  will  show  mercies  to 
you,  that  lie  may  have  compassion  upon  you,  and  cause 

13  you  to  return  to  your  own  land.  But  if  ye  say,  '  We 
will  not  dwell  in  this  land,'  so  as   not  to  hearken  to  the 

14  voice  of  Jehovah  your  God,  saying,  '  No !  but  we  will  go 
into  the  land  of  Egypt,  where  we  shall  see  no  war,  nor 
hear  the  sound  of  the  trumpet,  nor  be  hungry  for  bread, 

15  and  there  will  we  dwell,'  —  now,  theretbre,  hear  the  word 
of  Jehovah,  ye  remnant  of  Judah !  Thus  saith  Jehovah 
of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel :  If  ye  set  your  iaces  to  enter 

16  into  Egypt,  and  go  to  sojourn  there,  then  it  shall  come  to 
pass  that  the  sword,  which  ye  feared,  shall  overtake  you 


106  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XLiii. 

there  in  the  land  of^  Egypt,  and  the  famine,  of  which  ye 
,   were  afraid,  shall  follow  close  after  you  into  Egypt,  and 

17  there  shall  y3  die.  So  shall  it  be  with  all  the  men  that 
set  their  faces  to  go  into  Egypt  to  sojourn  there.  They 
shall  die  by  the  sword,  and  by  famine,  and  by  pestilence, 
and  not  one  of  them  shall  remain,  or  escape  from  the  evil 

18  which  I  bring  upon  them.  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  of 
hosts,  the  God  of  Israel:  As  my  anger  and  my  wrath 
have  been  poured  forth  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem, 

'  so  shall  my  wrath  be  poured  forth  upon  you,  when  ye 
shall  enter  into  Egypt ;  and  ye  shall  be  an  execration, 
and  an  astonishment,  and  a  curse,  and  a  reproach ;  and 

19  ye  shall  see  this  place  no  more.  This  is  the  word  of 
Jehovah  to  you,  ye  remnant  of  Judah !  Go  ye  not  into 
Egypt;   ye  shall  surely  know  that  I  have  warned  you 

20  this  day.  Ye  err  to  your  own  ruin  ;  for  ye  sent  me  to 
Jehovah  your  God,  saying,  '  Pray  for  us  to  Jehovah  otir 
God,  and  according  to  all  that  Jehovah  our  God  shall  say, 

21  so  declare  to  us,  and  we  will  do  it';  and  now  I  have  this 
day  declared  it  to  you,  but  ye  have  not  hearkened  to  the 
voice  of  Jehovah  your  God,  nor  to  anything  for  which  he 

22  sent  me  to  you.  Now,  therefore,  ye  shall  know  assured- 
ly, that  by  the  sword,  by  famine,  and  by  pestilence  ye 
shall  die,  in  the  place  whither  ye  have  chosen  to  go  and 
to  sojourn." 

1  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Jeremiah  had  made  an  end 
of  speaking  to  all  the  people  all  the  words  of  Jehovah 
their  God,  for  which  Jehovah  their  God  had  sent  him  to 

2  them,  even  all  these  words,  then  spake  Azariah,  the  son 
of  Hoshaiah,  and  Johanan,  the  son  of  Kareah,  and  all  the 
proud  men,  saying  to  Jeremiah,  "  Thou  speakest  falsely  ; 
Jehovah  our   God    hath    not    sent    thee   to   say,   Go  not 

3  into  Egypt  to  sojourn  there ;  but  Baruch,  the  son  of 
Neriah,  setteth  thee  on  against  us,  to  deliver  us  into  the 
hand  of  the  Chaldeeans,  that  they  may  put  us  to  death, 

4  and  carry  us  away  captive  to  Babylon."  So  Johanan,  the 
son  of  Kareah,  and  all  the  captains  of  the  forces,  and  all 
the  people,  obeyed  not  the  voice  of  Jehovah,  to  remain  in 

5  the  land  of  Judah.  But  Johanan,  the  son  of  Kareah,  and 
all  the  captains  of  the  forces,  took  all  the  remnant  of 
Judah,  who  were  returned  from  all  the  nations  whither 


CH    XLIII. 


JEREMIAH.  107 


they  had  hton  driven  to  dwell  in  tlie  hxnd  of  Judah,  the 
men,  and  the  women,  and  the  children,  and  the  king's 
daughters,  and  every  person  v^hora  Nebuzaradan,  the  cap- 
tain of  the  guard,  had  left  with  Gedaliah,  the  son  of  Ahi- 
kam,  the  son  of  Shaphan,  and  Jeremiah  the  prophet,  an^i 
Baruch,  the  son  of  Neriah ;  and  they  went  into  the  land 
of  Egypt ;  for  they  obeyed  not  the  voice  of  Jehovah ;  and 
they  came  to  Tahpanhes. 


XL. 

Prophecy  against  Egypt.  —  Ch.  XLIII.  8  - 13. 

8  Then  came  the  word  of  Jehovah  to  Jeremiah  in  Tah- 

9  panhes,  saying:  Take  in  thy  hand  great  stones,  and  hide 
them  in  the  clay  in  the  brick-kiln  which  is  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  house  of  Pharaoh  in  Tahpanhes,  in  the  sight 

10  of  the  men  of  Judah,  and  say  to  them  :  Thus  saith  Jeho- 
vah of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel :  Beliold,  I  will  send,  and 
take  Nebuchadnezzar,  the  king  of  Babylon,  my  servant, 
and  I  will  set  his  throne  upon  these  stones  which  I  have 
hidden,  and  he  shall  spread  his  royal  canopy  over  them. 

11  And  he  shall  come  and  smite  the  land  of  Egypt,  and 
deliver  those  that  are  for  death  to  death,  and  those  that 
are  for  captivity  to  captivity,  and  those  that  are  for  the 

12  sword  to  the  sword.  And  I  will  kindle  a  fire  in  the 
houses  of  the  gods  of  Egypt ;  and  he  shall  burn  them, 
and  carry  them  away  captive ;  and  he  shall  wrap  himself 
in  the  land  of  Egypt,  as  a  shepherd  wrappeth  himself  in 
his  garment,  and  he  shall  go  forth  from  thence  in  peace. 

13  And  he  shall  break  in  pieces  the  images  of  Bethshemesh 
in  the  land  of  Egypt;  and  the  houses  of  the  gods  of 
Egypt  shall  he  burn  with  fire. 


108  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XLIT. 

XLI. 

Prophecy  against  the  Jews  in  Egypt.  —  Ch.  XLIV.  . 

1  The  word  which  came  to  Jeremiah  concerning  all  the 
Jews  that  dwelt  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  that  dwelt  at  Mig- 
dol,  and  at  Tahpanhes,  and  at  Noph,  and  in  the  land  of 
Pathros,  saying : 

2  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel :  Ye 
have  seen  all  the  evil  which  I  have  brought  upon  Jeru- 
salem, and  upon  all  the  cities  of  Judah ;  and  behold,  this 
day  they  are  a  desolation,  and  no  man  dwelleth  therein ; 

3  because  of  their  wickedness,  which  they  have  committed, 
to  provoke  me  to  anger,  in  that  they  went  to  burn  incense 
and  to  serve  strange  gods,  whom  they  knew  not,  neither 

4  they,  ye,  nor  your  fathers ;  and  I  sent  to  you  all  my  ser- 
vants, the  prophets,  rising  early  and  sending  them,  say- 
ing:   O  do    not   this    abominable    thing,   which    I    hate! 

5  But  they  hearkened  not,  nor  inclined  their  ear  to  turn 
from  their  wickedness,  to  burn  no  incense  to  strange  gods. 

6  Therefore  hath  my  fury  been  poured  forth,  and  mine  anger, 
and  hatli  burned  in  the  cities  of  Judah,  and  in  the  streets 
of  Jerusalem ;   and  they  are  become  a  desolation  and  a 

7  waste  at  this  day.  And  now  thus  saith  Jehovah,  the 
God  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel :  AYherefore  do  ye  com- 
n)it  this  great  evil  against  your  own  souls,  that  ye  may 
cut  off  from  you  man  and  woman,  child  and  suckhng,  out 

8  of  Judah,  so  as  to  leave  yourselves  no  remnant?  Wliy 
do  ye  provoke  me  to  wrath  with  the  works  of  your  hands, 
burning  incense  to  strange  gods  in  the  land  of  Egypt, 
whither  ye  are  sone  to  dwell,  so  that  ye  may  cut  your- 
selves off,  and  that  ye  may  be  a  curse  and   a  reproach 

9  among  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  ?  Have  ye  forgotten 
the  wickedness  of  your  fathers,  and  the  wickedness  of  the 
kings  of  Judah,  and  the  wickedness  of  their  wives,  and 
your  own  wickedness,  and  the  wickedness  of  your  wives, 
which  they  have  committed  in  the  land  of  Judah,  and  in 

10  the  streets  of  Jerusalem  ?  They  have  not  been  humbled 
even  to  this  day,  neither  have  they  feared,  nor  walked  in 
my  law,  nor  in  my  statutes,  whicli  I  set  before  you,  and 
before  your  fathers. 


CH.  XLiv.J  JEREMIAH.  109 

11  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of 
Israel :  Behold,  I  set  my  face  against  you  for  evil,  even 

12  to  cut  off  all  Judah.  And  I  will  take  the  remnant  of 
Judah,  that  have  set  their  faces  to  go  into  the  land  of 
Egypt  to  sojourn  there,  and  they  shall  all  be  consumed; 
in  the  land  of  Egypt  shall  they  fall ;  by  the  sword  and  by 
famine  shall  they  be  consumed,  from  the  least  to  the 
greatest ;  by  the  sword  and  by  famine  shall  they  die  ;  and 
they  shall  become  an  execration,  and  an  astonishment,  and 

13  a  curse,  and  a  reproach.  For  I  will  punish  them  that 
dwell  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  as  I  have  punished  Jerusalem, 

14  by  the  sword,  by  famine,  and  by  pestilence.  And  none 
shall  escape  or  remain  of  the  remnant  of  Judah  which 
are  gone  into  the  land  of  Egypt,  to  sojourn  there,  and  to 
return  into  the  land  of  Judah,  to  which  they  have  a  desire 
to  return,  to  dwell  there ;  for  none  shall  return  but  a  few 
fugitives  that  escape. 

15  Then  all  the  men  who  knew  that  their  wives  had 
burned  incense  to  strange  gods,  and  all  the  women  that 
stood  by,  a  great  multitude,  even  all  the  people  that  dwelt 
in  the  land  of  Egy{)t,  and  in  Patliros,  answered  Jeremiah, 

16  saying :  "  As  for  the  word  which  thou  hast  spoken  to  us 
in   the  name  of  Jehovah,  we  will   not  hearken   to  thee. 

17  But  whatever  hath  gone  forth  from  our  mouth,  that  will 
we  do,  to  burn  incense  to  the  queen  of  heaven,  and  to 
pour  out  drink-offerings  to  her,  as  we  have  done,  we  and 
our  fathers,  our  kings  and  our  princes,  in  the  cities  of 
Judah,  and  in  the  streets  of  Jerusalem ;  for  then  we  had 
plenty  of  bread,  and  were  prosperous,  and  saw  no  calam- 

18  ity.     But  from  the  time  we  left  off  to  burn  incense  to  the 
queen  of  heaven,  and  to  pour  out  drink-offerings  to  her, 
we  have  been  in  want  of  all  things,  and  have  been  con- 
IP  sumed  by  the  sword  and  by  famine.     And  when  we  [said 

the  women]  burned  incense  to  the  queen  of  heaven,  and 
poured  out  drink-offerings  to  lier,  did  we  without  the 
knowledge  of  our  men  make  cakes  to  v/orship  her,  and 
pour  out  drink-offerings  to  her  ?  '* 

20  Then  spake  Jeremiah  to  all  the  people,  to  the  men,  and 
to  the  women,  and  to  all  the  peo[)le  who  had  giyen  him 

21  that  answer,  saying:  '"The  incense  which  ye  burned  in 


ilO  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XLiv. 

the  cities  of  Judali,  and  in  the  streets  of  Jerusalem,  ye 
and  your  fathers,  your  kings  and  your  princes,  and  the 
people  of  the  land,  did   not  Jehovah  remember  it,  and 

22  came  it  not  into  his  mind  ?  And  Jehovah  could  no  longer 
bear  the  evil  of  your  doings,  and  the  abominations  which 
ye  committed ;  therefore  is  your  land  a  desolation,  and  an 
astonishment,  and  a  curse,  without  an  inhabitant  at  this 

23  day.  Because  ye  have  burned  incense,  and  because  ye 
have  sinned  against  Jehovah,  and  have  not  obeyed  the 
voice  of  Jehovah,  nor  walked  in  his  law,  nor  in  his  stat- 
utes, nor  in  his  ordinances,  therefore  is  this  evil  come 
upon  you,  at  this  day." 

24  And  Jeremiah  said  to  all  the  people  and  to  all  the  wo- 
men, Hear  the  word  of  Jehovah,  all  Judali,  that  are  in  the 

25  land  of  Egypt !  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of 
Israel :  Ye  and  your  wives  speak  with  your  mouths,  and 
fulfd  with  your  hands ;  ye  say,  "  We  will  keep  our  vows, 
which  we  have  vowed,  to  burn  incense  to  the  queen  of 
heaven,  and  to  pour  out  drink-offerings  to  her " ;  ye  will 
surely  accomplish    your    vows ;    ye   will    surely    perform 

26  your  vows.  Therefore  hear  ye  the  word  of  Jehovah,  all 
ye  of  Judah,  that  dwell  in  the  land  of  Egypt!  Behold,  I 
swear  by  my  great  name,  saith  Jehovah,  that  my  name 
shall  no  more  be  named  in  the  mouth  of  any  man  of 
Judah  in  all  the  land  of  Egypt,  saying,  "  As  the  Lord  Je- 

27  hovah  liveth ! "  Behold,  I  will  watch  over  them  for  evil, 
and  not  for  good ;  and  all  the  men  of  Judah  who  are  in 
the  land  of  Egypt  shall  be  consumed  by  the  sword  and 

28  by  famine,  until  there  be  an  end  of  them.  And  they  that 
escape  the  sword  shall  return  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt 
into  the  land  of  Judah,  few  in  number ;  and  all  the  rem- 
nant of  Judah,  that  are  gone  into  the  land  of  Egypt  to  so- 
journ there,  shall  know  whose  words  shall  stand,  mine  or 

29  theirs.  And  this  shall  be  a  sign  to  you,  saith  Jehovah, 
that  I  will  punish  you  in  this  place,  that  ye  may  know 
that  my  words  shall  surely  stand  against  you   for  evil. 

30  Thus  saith  Jehovah :  Behold,  I  will  give  Pharaoh  Hoph- 
ra,  the  king  of  Egypt,  into  the  hand  of  his  enemies,  and 
into  the  hand  of  them  that  seek  his  life,  as  I  gave  Zede- 
kiah,  the  king  of  Judah.  into  the  hand  of  Nebuchadnezzar, 
the  king  of"  Babylon,  his  enemy,  that  nought  his  life." 


OH  xivi.J  JEREMIAH.  Ill 

XLII. 

Baruch  comforted  by  the  promise  of  safety.  —  Ch.  XLV. 

1  The  word  which  Jeremiah  the  prophet  spake  to 
Baruch,  the  son  of  Neriah,  after  he  had  written  these 
words  in  a  book  from  the  mouth  of  Jeremiah,  in  the 
fourth  year  of  Jehoiakim,  the  son  of  Josiah,  the  king  of 
Judah,  saying :  — 

2  Thus   saith  Jehovah,  the   God   of  Israel,  to   thee,  O 

3  Baruch  !  Thou  say  est,  "  Woe  now  to  me,  for  Jehovah 
hath  added   grief  to  my  sorrow !     I  am  weary  with  my 

4  sighing,  and  find  no  rest."  Thus  shalt  thou  say  to  him : 
Thus  saith  Jehovah:  Behold,  that  which  I  myself  have 
builded  do  I  break  down,  and  that  which  I  myself  have 

5  planted  do  I  pluck  up,  even  this  whole  land;  and  seekest 
thou  great  things  for  thyself?  Seek  them  not;  for 
behold,  I  am  about  to  bring  evil  upon  all  flesh,  saith 
Jehovah ;  but  thy  life  will  I  give  thee,  as  a  prey,  in  all 
places  whither  thou  shalt  go. 


XLIII. 

Prophecies  of  Jeremiah  relating  to  foreign  nations.  —  Ch.  XLVI.  —  LI. 

1  The  M^ord  which  came  to  Jeremiah  the  prophet  con- 
cerning the  nations. 

I. 

Victory  of  Nebuchadnezzar  over  Pharaoh-Necho.  —  Ch.  XLVI.  1  - 12. 

2  Of  Egypt. 

Concerning  the  army  of  Pharaoh-Necho,  the  king  of 
Egypt,  which  was  by  the  river  Euphrates  in  Carchemish, 
which  Nebuchadnezzar,  king  of  Babylon,  smote,  in  the 
fourth  year  of  Jehoiakim,  the  son  of  Josiah,  king  of 
Judah. 


112  JEREMIAH 


LCH.  XLVI. 


3  Prepare  ye  the  buckler  and  shield, 
And  move  on  to  battle ! 

4  Harness  the  horses,  and  mount,  ye  riders ! 
Stand  forth  in  your  helmets ; 

Make  bright  the  spears, 
And  put  on  the  coats  of  mail ! 

5  Wherefore  do  I  see  them  dismayed,  and  turned  back? 
Even  their  mighty  ones  are  smitten ; 

They  flee  apace  ;  they  look  not  back. 
Terror  is  on  every  side,  saith  Jehovah. 

6  Let  not  the  swift  attempt  to  flee  away, 
Nor  the  mighty  man  to  escape  ; 

Toward   the   North    by  the  river  Euphrates   shall   they 
stumble  and  fall. 

7  Who  is  he  that  riseth  up  like  the  Nile, 
Whose  waters  swell  like  floods  ? 

8  Egypt  riseth  up  like  the  Nile, 
And  like  floods  do  his  waters  swell. 

He  saith,  "  I  will  arise,  I  will  cover  the  land, 

I  will  destroy  the  city,  and  them  that  dwell  therein." 

9  Come  up,  ye  horses,  and  rage,  ye  chariots ! 
And  let  tlie  mighty  men  go  forth, 

Tlie  Ethiopians,  and  the  Libyans,  that  bear  the  shield, 
And  the  Lydians,  tliat  bear  and  bend  the  bow ! 

10  This  is  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jehovah  of  hosts, 

A  day  of  vengeance,  to  avenge  himself  of  his  enemies; 

And  the  sword  shall  devour,  and  satiate  itself. 

And  it  sliall  be  made  drunk  with  their  blood. 

For  Jehovah  of  hosts  hatli  a  sacrifice 

In  the  North  country,  by  the  river  Euphrates. 

11  Go  up  to  Gilead,  and  take  balm, 
O  virgin,  daughter  of  Egypt ! 

In  vain  shalt  thou  use  many  medicines ; 
There  is  no  cure  for  thee ! 

12  The  nations  have  heard  of  thy  shame. 
And  thy  cry  hath  filled  the  earth ; 

For  they  have  stumbled,  the  mighty  against  the  mighty. 
And  they  are  fallen  both  together. 


CH.  XLVi.]  JEREMIAH.  113 

II. 

Invasion  of  Egypt  by  Nebuchadnezzar.  —  XLVI.  13  -  28. 
i3       The   word   which   Jehovah    spake    to  Jeremiah    the 


prophet,  concerning  the  coming  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  king 
of  Babylon,  to  smite  the  land  of  Egypt. 

14  Declare  ye  in  Egypt,  and  proclaim  in  Migdol, 
Proclaim  ye  also  in  Noph  and  Tahpanhes ! 
Say  ye,  "  Stand  fast  and  prepare  thyself. 

For  the  sword  shall  devour  round  about  thee !  '* 

15  Wherefore  are  thy  mighty  ones  overthrown  ? 
They  stood  not,  because  Jehovah  cast  them  down. 

16  He  caused  many  to  fall ;  one  fell  upon  another ; 

And  they  said,  "  Arise,  and  let  us  go  to  our  own  people, 
And  to  the  land  of  our  nativity,  from  the  overpowering 
sword." 

17  There  they  cry,  "  Pharaoh,  king  of  Egypt,  is  undone ! 
He  hath  let  pass  the  appointed  time." 

18  As  I  live,  saith  the  King, 
Whose  name  is  Jehovah  of  hosts : 
Like  Tabor  among  the  mountains, 

And  like  Carmel  by  the  sea,  he  cometh  I 
Prepare  thyself  travelling  equipage, 

19  Thou  who  dwellest  in  Egypt ! 
For  Noph  shall  become  waste. 
Yea,  desolate  without  an  inhabitant. 

20  Egypt  is  a  fair  heifer. 

But  destruction  cometh  ;  it  cometh  from  the  North. 

21  Her  mercenaries  also  in  the  midst  of  her  are  like  fatted 

bullocks ; 
Yet  they  also  turn  back;  they  flee  together ;  they  stand  not; 
For  the  day  of  their  calamity  is  come  upon  them, 
And  the  time  of  their  punishment. 

22  Her  voice  shall  be  heard  like  that  of  a  serpent. 
When  they  shall  march  against  her  with  their  forces, 
And  come  against  her  with  axes  like  fellers  of  trees. 

23  They  shall  cut  down   her   forest,  though  it   be  impene- 

trable ; 
For  they  exceed  the  locusts  in  multitude. 


114  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XLVII. 

And  are  innumerable. 

24  The  daughter  of  Egypt  is  brought  to  shame ; 

She  is  given  into  the  hand  of  the  people  of  the  North. 

25  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel,  saith : 
Behold,  I  will  punish  Ammon  of  No, 

And  Pharaoh,  and  Egypt,  with  their  gods  and  their  kings ; 
Even  Pharaoh  and  all  that  trust  in  him. 

26  And  I  will  deliver  them  into  the  hands  of  those  that  seek 

their  lives, 
And  into  the  hand  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  king  of  Babylon, 
And  into  the  hand  of  his  servants. 
But  after  this  it  shall  be  inhabited, 
As  in  the  days  of  old,  saith  Jehovah. 

27  But  fear  thou  not,  0  my  servant  Jacob, 
And  be  not  thou  dismayed,  O  Israel ! 

For,  behold,  I  will  bring  thee  safe  from  afar, 

And  thy  posterit\^  from  the  laud  of  their  captivity  ; 

And  Jacob  shall  return  and  be  at  rest. 

Yea,  he  shall  be  quiet,  and  none  shall  make  him  afraid. 

28  Fear  thou  not,  0  Jacob,  my  servant,  saith  Jehovah, 
For  I  will  be  with  thee ; 

When  I  shall  make  a  full  end  of  all  the  nations 

Wliither  I  have  dispersed  thee. 

Yet  will  I  not  make  a  full  end  of  thee ; 

I  will  correct  thee  in  measure ; 

Yet  must  I  not  leave  thee  wholly  unpunished. 


III. 

The  destruction  of  the  Philistines  by  the  Chaldaeans.  —  Ch.  XL VII. 

1  The  word  of  Jehovah  which  came  to  Jeremiah  the 
prophet  concerning  the  Philistines,  before  Pharaoh  had 
smitten  Gaza. 

2  Thus  saith  Jehovah : 

Behold,  waters  rise  up  out  of  the  North, 

And  they  shall  become  an  overflowing  torrent, 

And  shall  overflow  the  land,  and  all  that  is  therein,  — 

The  city,  and  them  that  dwell  therein ; 

And  the  men  shall  cry  aloud 


en.  XLViii.]  JEREMIAH.  115 

And  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  land  shall  wail. 

3  At  the  noise  of  the  stamping  of  the  horses, 
At  the  rattling  of  his  chariots, 

And  at  the  rumbling  of  his  wheels, 
Fathers  look  not  back  for  their  children, 
For  feebleness  of  hands, 

4  Because  of  the  day  which  cometh, 
To  lay  waste  all  the  Philistines, 

To  cut  off  from  Tyre  and  from  Sidon 
Lvery  helper  that  remaineth. 
For  Jehovah  will  lay  waste  the  Philistines, 
The  remnant  of  the  country  of  Caphtor 

5  Baldness  is  come  upon  Gaza, 
Askelon  is  in  ruins, 

And  the  remnant  of  their  valley ! 
How  long  wilt  thou  cut  thyself? 

6  Ah  !  sword  of  Jehovah, 

How  long  ere  thou  wilt  be  quiet  ? 
Retire  into  thy  scabbard, 
Rest,  and  be  still ! 

7  But  how  canst  thou  be  at  rest, 

Since  Jehovah  hath  given  thee  a  charge  against  Askelon, 
And  against  the  coast  of  the  sea  ? 
There  hath  he  appointed  it. 


IV.  . 

The  destraction  of  Moab.  —  Ch.  XLVIIL 

1  Concerning  Moab. 

Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel: 
Woe  to  Nebo,  for  it  is  laid  waste ! 
Kiriathaim  is  confounded,  is  taken. 
Misgab  is  conibuiided  and  dismayed. 

2  Moab  shall  no  more  glory  in  Heshbon ; 
They  have  devised  evil  against  her ; 

"  Come,  [say  they,]  and  let  us  cut  her  off  from  being  a 

nation ! " 
Thou  also  shalt  be  cut  down,  O  Madmena, 
The  sword  shall  pursue  thee ! 


116  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XLViii. 

3  A  cry  is  heard  from  Horonaim, 
Desolation  and  great  destruction. 

4  Moab  is  destroyed  ; 

Her  little  ones  raise  a  cry. 

5  At  the  ascent  of  Luhith 
Weeping  goeth  up  after  weeping ; 

At  the  descent  of  Horonaim   is   heard  a  bitter  cry  of 
despair. 

6  Flee  ye  !  save  your  lives  ! 

Be  ye  like  one  that  has  been  stripped  in  the  wilderness ! 

7  For,  because  thou  hast  trusted  in  thy  substance  and  thy 

treasures, 
Thou  also  shalt  be  taken 
And  Chemosh  shall  go  into  captivity, 
His  priests  and  his  princes  together. 

8  The  spoiler  shall  come  upon  every  city, 
And  no  city  shall  escape. 

The  valley  shall  perish, 

And  the  plain  shall  be  destroyed, 

As  Jehovah  hath  spoken. 

9  Give  wings  to  Moab, 
That  she  may  flee  away ; 

For  her  cities  shall  be  a  desolation. 
With  none  to  dwell  therein. 

10  Cursed  be  he  that  doeth  the  work  of  Jehovah  deceitfully, 
And  cursed  be  he  that  keepeth  back  his  sword  from  blood ! 

11  ISIoab  hath  been  at  ease  from  his  youth. 
And  he  hath  settled  on  his  lees. 

And  hath  not  been  drawn  off  from  vessel  to  vessel, 
Neither  hath  he  gone  into  captivity ; 
Therefore  his  taste  hath  remained  in  him, 
And  his  flavor  hath  not  changed. 

12  Therefore,  behold,  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah, 
That  I  will  send  to  him  tilters,  who  shall  tilt  him  up, 
And  shall  empty  his  vessels,  and   break  his  pitchers  in 

pieces. 

13  And  Moab  shall  be  ashamed  of  Chemosh, 

As  the  house  of  Israel  was  ashamed  of  Bethel,  their  coii' 
fidence. 

14  How  will  ye  say,  "  We  are  mighty,  ^ 
And  strong  men  for  war  "  ? 


CH.  XLViii.]  JEREMIAH.  117 

15  Moab  is  destroyed ; 

His  cities  have  gone  up  in  smoke, 

And  his  chosen  young  men  have  gone  down  to  slaughter, 

Saith  the  King  whose  name  is  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

16  The  destruction  of  Moab  is  near  at  hand ; 
His  destruction  hasteth  fast. 

17  All  ye  that  are  about  him,  bemoan  him ! 
And  all  ye  that  know  him,  say, 

"  How  is  the  strong  sceptre  broken, 
The  splendid  staff!" 

18  Come  down  from  thy  glory  and  sit  in  thirst, 
O  inhabitant  of  Dibon  ! 

For  the  destroyer  of  Moab  shall  come  against  thee ; 
He  sliall  destroy  thy  strongholds. 
Stand  by  the  wayside,  and  look  out, 

19  0  inhabitant  of  Aroer  ! 

Ask  of  him  that  fleeth,  and  of  her  that  escapeth, 
And  say,  "  What  hath  been  done  ?  " 

20  Moab  is  confounded  ;  for  it  is  broken  down ; 
Howl  ye,  and  cry  ! 

Tell  ye  it  in  Arnon, 
That  Moab  is  destroyed  ! 

21  And  punishment  hath  come  upon  the  plain  county  | 
Upon  Holon,  and  upon  Jahazah,  and  upon  Mcpha^ih, 

22  And  upon  Dibon,  and  upon  Nebo,  and  upon  Beth-diiA> 

thaim, 

23  And  upon  Kiriathaim,  and  upon  Beth-gamul,  and  upon 

Beth-meon, 

24  And  upon  Kerioth,  and  upon  Bozrah, 

And  upon  all  the  cities  of  the  land  of  Moab  far  and  near. 

25  The  horn  of  Moab  is  cut  off. 

And  his  arm  is  broken,  saith  Jehovah. 

26  Make  ye  him  drunken,  for  he   hath  exalted   himself 

against  Jehovah ; 
That  he  also  may  wallow  in  his  vomit, 
And  be  himself  also  in  derision. 

27  Was  not  Israel  a  derision  to  thee  ? 
Was  he  found  among  thieves. 

That,  as  often  as  thou  spakest  of  him,  thou  shouldst  shake 
thy  head  ? 


118  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XLViii. 

28  Leave  the  cities  and  dwell  in  the  rock, 
O  inhabitants  of  Moab ! 

Be  like  the  dove,  that  maketh  her  nest  in  the  sides  of  the 
mouth  of  the  pit ! 

29  We  have  heard  of  the  pride  of  Moab ; 
He  hath  been  exceeding  proud ; 

His  loftiness  and  his  arrogance, 

His  pride  and  the  haughtiness  of  his  heart. 

30  I,  too,  know  his  insolence,  saith  Jehovah, 
And  his  vain  boastings. 

They  shall  eiFect  nothing. 

31  Therefore  will  I  wail  for  Moab, 
Even  for  all  Moab  will  I  cry  out ; 

For  the  men  of  Kir-heres  shall  there  be  mourning. 

32  More  than  Jazer  will  I  weep  for  thee,  O  vine  of  Sibmah ! 
Thy  branches  have  passed  beyond  the  sea ; 

They  reach  even  to  the  sea  of  Jazer ; 

Upon    thy  summer-fruits    and    thy    vintage  the   spoiler 

falleth.  ^     _ 

33  And  joy  and  gladness  are  taken  away  from  the  fruitful 

field ; 
And  from  the  land  of  Moab, 

And  from  the  presses,  have  I  caused  the  wine  to  fail : 
No  more  shall  they  tread  with  shouting ; 
The  shouting  shall  be  no  shouting. 

84       From  wailing  Heshbon  to  Elealeh, 
Even  to  Jahaz,  is  their  voice  heard, 
From  Zoar  even  to  Horonaim, 
To  Eglath-shelishijah ; 
For  even  the  waters  of  Nimrim  are  desolate. 

35  And  I  will  cause  to  cease  in  Moab,  saith  Jehovah, 
Him  that  offereth  in  the  high  places. 

And  him  that  burneth  incense  to  his  gods. 

36  Therefore  doth  my  heart  sound  like  a  flute  for  Moab, 
And  for  the  men  of  Ker-heres  doth  my  heart  sound  like  a 

flute ; 
For  the  remnant  of  their  substance  is  perished. 

37  Every  head  is  bald. 
And  every  beard  shorn  ; 


CH.  XLViii.J  JEREMIAH.  119 

Upon  all  hands  are  cuttings, 
And  upon  tlie  loins  sackcloth. 

38  Upon  all  the  house-tops  of  Moab,  and  in  her  streets, 
All  is  lamentation. 

For  I  have  broken   Moab,  like   a   useless  vessel,  sa-th 
Jehovah. 

39  Howl  ye  !     How  is  he  broken  down  ! 

How  hath  INIoab  turned  the  back  with  shame ! 
A  derision  and  a  consternation  is  Moab 
To  all  that  are  round  him. 

40  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  : 
Behold,  like  an  eagle  flieth  an  enemy. 
And  spreadeth  his  wings  over  Moab. 

41  Kerioth  is  taken. 

And  the  strongholds  are  seized ; 

The  hearts  of  the  heroes  of  Moab  in  that  day 

Sliall  be  like  the  heart  of  a  woman  in  her  pangs. 

42  And   Moab   shall   be  destroyed   so  as  to  be  no  more  a 

people, 
Because  he  exalted  himself  against  Jehovah. 

43  Terror  and  the  pit  and  the  snare  are  upon  thee, 
O  inhabitant  of  Moab,  saith  Jehovah. 

44  He  that  fleeth  from  the  terror  shall  fall  into  the  pit. 

And  he  that  getteth  up  out  of  the  pit  shall  be  taken  in  the 

snare ; 
For  I  will  bring  upon  it,  upon  Moab, 
The  year  of  their  punishment,  saith  Jehovah. 

45  In  the  valley  of  Heshbon  the  fugitives  halt  A  for  waa 

of  strength ; 
But  a  fire  is  gone  forth  from  Heshbon, 
And  a  flame  from  the  midst  of  Sihon, 
Which  devoureth  the  region  of  Moab, 
And  the  heads  of  the  sons  of  tumult. 

46  Woe  to  thee,  O  Moab  ! 

Undone  is  the  people  of  Chemosh ! 
For  thy  sons  are  taken  captives, 
And  thy  daughters  are  captives. 

47  Yet  will  I  bring  back  the  captivity  of  Moab 
In  future  times,  saith  Jehovah. 

Thus  far  the  judgment  of  Moab. 


120  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XLix. 

V. 

Desolation  of  Ammon.  —  Ch.  XLIX.  1-6 

1  Concerning  the  children  of  Ammon. 

Thus  saith  Jehovah : 
Hath  Israel  no  sons  ? 
Hath  he  not  an  heir  ? 
Why  then  doth  Milcom  inherit  Gad, 
And  his  people  dwell  in  his  cities  ? 

2  Therefore,  behold,  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah, 

That  I  will  cause  a  cry  of  war  to  be  heard  against  Kabbah 

of  the  sons  of  Ammon, 
And  she  shall  become  a  ruinous  heap, 
And  her  daughters  shall  be  burned  with  fire ; 
And  Israel  shall  take  possession  of  their  land,  who  took 

possession  of  his. 

3  Howl,  0  Ileshbon,  for  Ai  is  laid  waste ! 
Cry,  ye  daughters  of  Rabbah, 

Gird  yourselves  with  sackcloth,  lament, 
And  run  ye  to  and  fro  within  the  fences ! 
For  Milcom  goeth  into  captivity, 
His  priests  and  his  princes  together. 

4  Wherefore  dost  thou  glory  in  the  valleys  ? 

Thy  valley  shall  flow  [with  blood],  O  perverse  daughter, 

That  gloriest  in  thy  treasures, 

[Saying,]  "  Who  shall  come  against  me  ?  " 

5  Behold,  I  will  bring  a  terror  upon  thee,  saith  Jehovah  of 

hosts. 
From  all  those  that  are  around  thee, 
And  ye  shall  be  driven  out,  every  one  right  forth, 
And  there  shall  be  none  to  gather  up  the  fugitives. 

6  But  after  this  will  I  bring  back  the  captivity  of  the  sons 

of  Ammon,  saith  Jehovah. 


IJH.  XLix.]  JEREMIAH.  121 

VI. 

The  desolation  of  Edom.  —  Ch.  XLIX.  7-22. 

7  Concerning  the  Edomites. 

Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts : 
Is  wisdom  no  more  in  Teman  ? 
Is  counsel  passed  away  from  the  prudent  ? 
Is  their  wisdom  vanished  ? 

8  Flee  ye,  turn  ye  back, 
Dwell  in  deep  places, 

0  ye  inhabitants  of  Dedan  ! 

For  the  destruction  of  Esau  do  I  bring, 
The  time  of  his  punishment  upon  him. 

9  If  grape-gatherers  had  come  upon  thee. 
Would  they  not  have  left  some  gleanings  ? 
If  thieves  by  night, 

They  would  have  destroyed  only  till  they  had  enough. 

10  But  I  will  make  Esau  bare ; 

1  will  uncover  his  hiding-places, 

So  that  he  shall  not  be  able  to  hide  himself. 

His  offspring  shall  be  destroyed,  and  his  brethren,  and  his 

neighbors, 
And  he  shall  be  no  more. 

11  Leave  thy  fatherless  children,  I  will  preserve  them  alive, 
And  thy  widows,  let  them  trust  in  me ! 

12  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

Behold,  they  who  ought  not  to  have  drunk  the  cup  have 

deeply  drunken, 
And  shalt  thou  go  altogether  unpunished  ? 
Thou  shalt  not  go  unpunished; 
Thou  shalt  surely  drink. 

13  For  by  myself  have  I  sworn,  saith  Jehovah, 
That  Bozrah  shall  become  an  astonishment, 
A  reproach,  a  desolation,  and  a  curse ; 
And  all  her  cities  shall  be  perpetual  wastes. 

14  I  have  heard  a  proclamation  from  Jehovah, 

And  an  ambassador  hath  been  sent  among  the  nations, 
[Saying,]   "Assemble  yourselves  and  come  against  her, 
And  arise  to  battle  ! " 

VOL.  II.  6 


122  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XLIX. 

15  For,  behold,  I  wUl  make  thee  small  among  the  nations, 
Despised  among  men. 

16  Thy  terribleness  hath  deceived  thee, 
The  pride  of  thy  heart, 

Because  thou  dwellest  in  the  recesses  of  the  rock, 
And  boldest  the  height  of  the  hill. 
Though  thou  set  thy  nest  on  high,  like  the  eagle, 
From  thence  will  I  bring  thee  down,  saith  Jehovah. 

17  And  Edom  shall  be  an  astonishment  : 

Every  one  that  passeth  by  her  shall  be  astonished, 
And  shall  hiss  on  account  of  all  her  plagues. 

18  As  in  the  overthrow  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah, 
And  their  neighboring  cities,  saith  Jehovah, 
There  shall  not  a  man  abide  there, 

Nor  a  son  of  man  dwell  within  her. 

19  Behold,  he  [the  enemy]  cometh  up  like  a  lion  from  the 

pride  of  Jordan  against  the  habitation  of  the  rock  ; 
Suddenly  will  I  drive  him  [Edom]  thence. 
And  him  who  is  chosen  by  me  will  I  set  over  her. 
For  wlio  is  like  me, 
Or  w  ho  will  summon  me  to  trial  ? 
Or  who  is  the  shepherd  that  will  stand  up  against  me  ? 

20  Therefore,  hear  ye  the  purpose  of  Jehovah, 
Which  he  hath  formed  against  Edom, 

And  the  designs  which  he  meditateth  against  the  inhab- 
itants of  Teman ! 

Surely  he  [the  enemy]  shall  drag  them  forth  like  feeble 
sheep ; 

Surely  he  shall  come  upon  them. 

And  make  their  pastures  desolate. 

21  At  the  noise  of  their  fall  the  earth  trembleth. 
Even  to  the  Red  Sea  is  their  cry  heard. 

22  Behold,  like  an  eagle,  he  [the  enemy]  cometh  up. 
And  spreadeth  his  wings  over  Bozrah ; 

And  the  hearts  of  the  heroes  of  Edom,  in  that  day, 
Shall  be  as  the  heart  of  a  woman  in  her  pangs. 


CH.  XLix.]  JEREMIAH.  123 

VII. 

The  destruction  of  Damascus.  — Ch.  XLIX.  23-27. 

23  Concerning  Damascus. 

Hamath  and  Arpad  are  confounded; 
They  faint,  because  they  have  heard  evil  tidings; 
There  is  anxiety  at  the  sea ; 
It  cannot  be  at  rest. 

24  Damascus  is  faint-hearted  ; 
She  turneth  herself  to  flee  ; 
TrembHng  hath  seized  on  her ; 

Anguish  and  pangs  have  taken  hold  of  her,  as  of  a  woman 
in  travail. 

25  "  Why  is  not  the  praised  city  left, 
The  city  of  my  joy  ?  " 

26  Yea,  her  young  men  shall  fall  in  her  streets, 

And  all  her  men  of  war  shall  be  cut  off  in  that  day, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

27  Yea,  I  will  kindle  a  fire  in  the  wall  of  Damascus, 
Which  shall  consume  the  palaces  of  Benhadad. 

VIII. 

The  destruction  of  Kedar  and  Hazor.  —  Ch.  XLIX.  28  -  33. 

28  Concerning  Kedar,  and  concerning  the  kingdoms   of 
Hazor,  which  Nebuchadnezzar,  king  of  Babylon,  smote. 

Thus  saith  Jehovah : 
Arise  ye,  go  up  against  Kedar, 
And  spoil  the  sons  of  the  East ! 

29  Their  tents  and  their  flocks  shall  they  take  away ; 

They  shall  take  to  themselves  their  curtains,  and  all  their 

furniture,  and  their  camels, 
And  men  shall  cry  to  them,  "  Terror  is  on  every  side." 

30  Flee,  get  you  far  off,  dwell  in  deep  places, 
0  ye  inhabitants  of  Hazor,  saith  Jehovah. 

For  Nebuchadnezzar,  the  king  of  Babylon,  meditates   a 

design  against  you. 
And  has  formed  a  purpose  against  you. 


124  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  XLix. 

31  Arise  ye,  go  up  against  a  nation  at  ease, 
That  dwelleth  securely,  saith  Jehovah ; 
Which  hath  neither  gates  nor  bars ; 
Which  dwelleth  alone. 

32  And  their  camels  shall  be  a  booty, 
And  the  multitude  of  their  cattle  a  spoil ; 

And  I  will  scatter  to  all  the  winds  them  that  shave  the 

cheeks. 
And   from  every  side  will  I  bring  their  calamity,  saith 

Jehovah. 

33  And  Hazor  shall  be  a  dwelling  for  jackals, 
A  desolation  forever. 

There  shall  not  a  man  abide  there, 
Nor  any  son  of  man  dwell  therein. 


IX. 

The  destruction  of  Elara.  —  Ch.  XLIX.  34  -  39. 

34  The  word  of  Jehovah  which  came  to  Jeremiah  the 
prophet  against  Elam,  in  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of 
Zedekiah,  king  of  Judah,  saying :  — 

35  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts : 
Behold,  I  break  the  bow  of  Elam, 
The  chief  part  of  their  strength. 

36  And  I  will  bring  against  Elam 

The  four  winds  from  the  four  extremities  of  the  heavens, 

And  I  will  scatter  them  to  all  these  winds. 

And  there  shall  be  no  nation 

To  which  the  outcasts  of  Elam  shall  not  come. 

37  For  I  will  cause  Elam  to  be  dismayed  before  their  enemies, 
And  before  them  that  seek  their  life. 

And  I  will  bring  evil  upon  them, 

The  fierceness  of  my  anger,  saith  Jehovah. 

And  I  will  send  after  them  the  sword. 

Until  I  have  consumed  them. 
3S  And  I  will  set  up  my  throne  in  Elam, 

And  I  will  destroy  from  thence  king  and  princes,  saith 
Jehovah. 
39  But  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  future  times, 

That   I   will   bring   back   the   captivity   of  Elam,   saith 
Jehovah. 


CH.  L.J  JEREMIAH.  125 

X. 

Destruction  of  Babylon,  and  restoration  oi  Israel.  —  Ch.  L.,  LL 

1  The  word  which  Jehovah  spake  concerning  Babylon, 
and  concerning  the  land  of  the  Chalda3ans,  by  Jeremiah 
the  prophet. 


2  Tell  ye  among  the  nations,  and  proclaim,  and  lift  up  a 

standard ! 
Proclaim  ye  ;  conceal  it  not ; 
Say  ye,  "  Babylon  is  taken, 
Bel  is  confounded, 
Merodacli  is  in  consternation, 
Her  idols  are  confounded, 
Her  images  are  in  consternation." 

3  For  out  of  the  North  cometh  up  against  her  a  nation 
Which  shall  make  her  land  desolate, 

So  that  none  shall  dwell  therein ; 
Both  man  and  beast  are  fled, 
They  are  gone. 

4  In  those  days,  and  at  that  time,  saith  Jehovah, 
The  children  of  Israel  shall  come. 

They  and  the  children  of  Judah  together; 
They  shall  go  weeping  on  their  way, 
And  shall  seek  Jehovah  their  God. 

5  They  shall  ask  the  way  to  Zion,  with  their  faces  thither- 

ward ; 
They  shall  come,  and  shall  join  themselves  to  Jehovah 
In  a  perpetual  covenant,  that  shall  not  be  forgotten. 

6  My  people  have  been  lost  sheep ; 

Their  shepherds  have  cau>ed  them  to  go  astray ; 
They  have  caused  them  to  wander  upon  the  mountains ; 
They  have  gone  from  mountain  to  hill , 
They  have  forgotten  their  fold. 

7  All  that  found  them  devoured  them ; 

For  their  adversaries  said,  "  We  shall  not  be  held  guilty,'* 

Because  they  had  sinned  against  Jehovah, 

The  fold  of  safety,  and  the  hope  of  their  fathers,  Jehovah. 


126  JEREMIAH.  [CH   L. 

8  Flee  ye  out  of  Babylon, 

And  go  forth  out  of  the  land  of  the  Chaldaeans, 
And  be  ye  like  he-goats  before  the  flock ! 

9  For,  behold,  I  will  raise  up  and  bring  against  Babylon 
An  assembly  of  great  nations  from  the  land  of  the  North, 
And  they  shall  set  themselves  in  array  against  her, 

And  then  shall  she  be  taken  ; 

Their  arrows  shall  be  as  those  of  an  expert  warrior ; 

None  shall  retui-n  in  vain. 

10  And  Chaldaia  shall  be  a  spoil; 

All  that  spoil  her  shall  have  their  fill,  saith  Jehovah. 

11  Because  ye  rejoiced  and  exulted, 
O  ye  plunderers  of  my  inheritance, 
Because  ye  wantoned  like  a  thrashing  heifer, 
And  neighed  like  a  stallion, 

12  Your  mother  is  utterly  confounded ; 
She  that  bore  you  is  put  to  shame. 
Behold,  the  end  of  the  nations, 

A  wilderness,  a  dry  land,  a  desert ! 

13  Because  of  the  wrath  of  Jehovah,  she  shall  not  be  in- 

habited, 
She  shall  be  wholly  de>olate ; 

Every  one  that  passeth  by  Babylon  shall  be  amazed, 
And  hiss  on  account  of  all  her  plagues. 

14  Put  yourselves  in  array  against  Babylon  round  about; 
All  ye  that  bend  the  bow,  shoot  at  her ; 

Spare  not  the  arrows  ! 

For  she  hath  sinned  against  Jehovah. 

15  Raise  the  war-shout ! 

She  reacheth  forth  her  hand  ; 

Her  pillars  are  fallen  ; 

Her  walls  are  thrown  down  ; 

For  it  is  the  vengeance  of  Jehovah. 

Take  ye  vengeance  upon  her  ! 

As  she  hath  done,  do  ye  to  her ! 

16  Cut  ye  off  the  sower  from  Babylon, 

And  him  that  handleth  the  sickle  in  harvest-time  I 
Because  of  the  overpowering  sword 
They  shall  turn  eveiy  one  to  his  own  people, 
And  they  shall  flee  every  one- to  his  own  land- 


cii.  T..]  JEREMIAH.  127 

17  Israel  hatli  been  like  scattered  sheep, 
Which  the  lions  have  driven  away; 
First  the  king  of  Assyria  devoured  him, 

And  last,  this  Nebuchadnezzar,  the  king  of  Babylon,  hath 
broken  his  bones. 

18  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel : 
Behold,  I  will  punish  the  king  of  Babylon  and  his  land, 
As  I  have  punished  the  king  of  Assyria. 

19  And  I  will  bring  back  Israel  to  his  own  pasture. 
And  he  shall  feed  upon  Carmel  and  Baslian, 

And  satiate  himself  upon  mount  Ephraim  and  Gilead. 

20  In  those  days  and  at  that  time,  saith  Jehovah, 

The  iniquity  of  Israel  shall  be  sought  for,  and  there  shall 

be  none ; 
And  the  sins  of  Judah,  and  they  shall  not  be  found ; 
For  I  will  pardon  those  whom  I  cause  to  be  left. 

2. 

21  Against  the  land  of  Rebellion  go  ye  up. 
And  against  the  inhabitants  of  Vengeance ! 

Lay  waste  and  utterly  destroy  after  them,  saith  Jehovah, 
And  do  all  which  I  have  commanded  thee ! 

22  The  din  of  battle  is  in  the  land. 
And  great  destruction. 

23  How  is  the  battle-hammer  of  the  whole  earth  cut  asunder 

and  broken  ! 
How    is    Babylon   become   an   astonishment    to   all    the 
nations ! 

24  I  iiave  laid  a  snare  for  thee. 

And  thou  hast  been  caught,  O  Babylon, 

When  thou  wast  not  aware  ! 

Thou  hast  been  found  and  taken. 

Because  thou  hast  contended  against  Jehovah. 

25  Jehovah  hath  opened  his  armory, 

And  hath  brouglit  out  the  weapons  of  his  indignation ; 
For    the    Lord   Jehovah    of    hosts    performeth    a   work 
against  the  land  of  the  Chaldaeans. 

26  Come  against  her  from  the  utmost  border ! 
Open  ye  her  barns. 

Cast  her  up  into  heaps, 
And  destroy  her  utterly  ; 


128  JEREMIAH.  [CH   L 

Let  nothing  of  her  be  left ! 

27  Slaj  all  her  bullocks, 

Let  them  go  down  to  the  slaughter  1 

Woe  unto  them, 

For  their  day  is  come. 

The  time  of  their  punishment ! 

28  The  voice  of  them  that  flee  and  escape  is  heard  from  tho 

land  of  Babylon, 
To  make  known  to  Ziou  the  vengeance  of  Jehovah,  our 

God, 
The  vengeance  for  his  temple. 

29  Call  together  the  archers  against  Babylon, 

All  ye  that  bend  the  bow,  encamp  ye  round  about  her ; 

Let  no  one  escape  ; 

Recompense  her  according  to  her  work ; 

According  to  all  that  she  hath  done,  do  ye  to  her ! 

For  she  hath  exalted  herself  against  Jehovah, 

Against  the  Holy  One  of  Israel. 

30  Tiierefore  shall  her  young  men  fall  in  the  streets. 

And  all  her  men  of  war  shall  be  cut  off  in  that  day,  saith 
Jehovah. 

31  Behold  I  am  against  thee,  thou   proud  one,  saith  the 

Lord  Jehovah  of  hosts ; 
For  thy  day  is  come, 
The  time  of  thy  punishment. 

32  And  the  proud  one  shall  stumble  and  fall, 
And  none  shall  raise  him  up  ; 

And  I  will  kindle'  a  fire  in  his  cities. 
And  it  shall  devour  all  round  about  him. 


3. 

33  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts : 

The  children  of  Israel   and   the  children   of  Judah   are 

oppressed  together, 
And  all  that  took  them  captives  hold  them  fast ; 
They  refuse  to  let  them  go. 

34  But  their  redeemer  is  strong ; 
Jehovah  of  hosts  is  his  name. 
He  will  maintain  their  cause, 


CH.  L.]  JEREMIAH.  129 

So  as  to  give  rest  to  the  land, 

And  confusion  to  the  inhabitants  of  Babylon. 
35  The  sword  shall  be  upon  the  Chaldieans,  saith  Jehovah, 

And  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Babylon  ; 

And  upon  her  princes, 

And  upon  her  wise  men  ; 
ii6  The  sword  upon  her  lying  prophets,  and  they  shall  be 
fools ; 

The  sword  upon  her  heroes,  and  they  shall  be  dismayed; 

37  The  sword  upon  her  horses,  and  upon  her  chariots, 
And  against  all  the  allied  multitude  that  is  within  her, 
And  they  shall  become  women. 

The  sword   is   upon  their   treasures,  and   they  shall   be 
plundered ; 

38  A  drought  is  upon  her  waters,  and  they  shall  be  dried  up  ; 
For  it  is  a  land  of  graven  images. 

And  they  put  a  mad  trust  in  idols. 

39  Therefore  the  wild  beasts  of  the  desert,  with  the  jackals, 

shall  dwell  there. 
And  therein  shall  the  ostrich  dwell. 
And  it  shall  be  no  more  inhabited  forever. 
Neither  shall  it  be  dwelt  in  from  generation  to  generation. 

40  As  it  was  when  God  overthrew  Sodom  and  Gomorrah, 

and  the  neighboring  cities,  saith  Jehovah, 
There  shall  not  a  man  abide  there. 
Nor  any  son  of  man  dwell  therein. 

41  Behold,  a  nation  cometh  from  the  North, 

And  a  great  people  and  many  kings  shall  rise  up  from  the 
extremities  of  the  earth. 

42  They  bear  the  bow  and  the  javelin  ; 
They  are  cruel,  and  show  no  mercy; 
Their  voice  roareth  like  the  sea, 

And  they  ride  upon  horses,  arrayed  like  a  warrior, 
Against  thee,  O  daughter  of  Babylon ! 

43  The  king  of  Babylon  heareth  the  rumor  concerning  them, 
And  his  hands  become  feeble ; 

Anguish  taketh  hold  of  him. 
Trembling,  as  of  a  woman  in  travail. 

44  Behold,  like  a  lion  from  the  pride  of  Jordan,  he  cometh 

up  against  the  habitation  of  the  rock ; 
6* 


130  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  LI. 

Suddenly  will  I  drive  them  from  her  ; 

And  him  who  is  chosen  by  me  will  I  appoint  over  her ; 

For  who  is  like  me  ? 

And  who  will  summon  me  to  trial  ? 

And  who  is  the  shepherd  that  will  stand  up  against  me  ? 

45  Therefore  hear  ye  the  purpose  of  Jehovah,  which  he  hath 

formed  against  Babylon, 
And  the  designs  which  he  meditateth  against  the  land  of 

the  Chaldoeans ; 
Surely  he  [the  enemy]  shall  drag  them  forth  like  feeble 

sheep, 
Surely  he  will  come  upon  them,  and  make  their  pastures 
desolate. 

46  At  the  noise  of  the  taking  of  Babylon,  the  earth  trembleth, 
And  the  cry  is  heard  among  the  nations. 


1  Thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

Behold,  I  will  raise  up  against  Babylon, 
And  against  them  that  dwell  in  the  midst  of  mine  adver- 
saries, 
A  destroying  wind ; 

2  And  I  will  send  against  Babylon  winnowers. 
And  they  shall  winnow  her,  and  empty  her  land ; 
For  they  shall  come  against  her  on  every  side. 

3  Against  him  that  bendeth,  let  the  archer  bend  his  bow, 
And  against  him  that  lifteth  himself  up  in  his  brigandine ! 
And  spare  ye  not  her  young  men ; 

Destroy  ye  utterly  her  whole  host ! 

4  Thus  shall  they  fall  down  slain  in  the  land  of  the  Chal- 

dasans, 
And  thrust  through  in  her  streets. 

5  For  Israel  is  not  forsaken,  nor  Judah  abandoned  of  his 

God,  of  Jehovah  of  hosts  ; 
For  their  land  is  full  of  guilt  against  the  Holy  One  of 
Israel. 

6  Flee  ye  out  of  Babylon, 

And  save  ye  every  man  his  life. 

That  ye  be  not  cut  off  in  her  punishment ! 

For  this  is  the  time  of  Jehovah's  vengeance; 


CH    i>i.]  JEREMIAH.  131 

He  will  render  to  her  a  recompense. 

7  Babylon  has  been  a  golden  cup  in  the  hand  of  Jehovah, 
That  made  all  the  earth  drunken ; 

The  nations  have  drunken  of  her  wine, 
Therefore  the  nations  are  mad. 

8  Babylon  is  suddenly  fallen,  and  broken ; 
Howl  ye  over  her ; 

Bring  ye  balm  for  her  wounds, 
If  so  be  she  may  be  healed. 
.  "  We  would  have  healed  Babylon, 
But  she  cannot  be  healed. 

Forsake  her,  and  let  us  go  every  one  to  his  own  country ! 
For  her  punishment  reacheth  to  the  heavens. 
And  ascendeth  even  to  the  skies." 

10  Jehovah  hath  brought  forth  our  deliverance ; 
Come  ye,  and  let  us  declare  in  Zion 

The  work  of  Jehovah  our  God. 

11  Make  sharp  the  arrows;  put  on  the  shields! 
Jehovah  hath  roused  up  the  spirit  of  the  kings  of  the 

Medes ; 
For  his  purpose  is  against  Babylon,  to  destroy  it ; 
For  this  is  the  vengeance  of  Jehovah, 
The  vengeance  for  his  temple. 

12  Against  the  walls  of  Babylon  set  up  a  standard, 

Make  strong   the  guard,  appoint  the  watchmen,  prepare 

the  ambush ! 
For  Jehovah  deviseth  and  doeth  that  which  he  spake 
Against  the  inhabitants  of  Babylon. 

13  0  tliou  that  dwellest  by  great  waters, 
That  aboundest  in  treasures. 

Thine  end  is  come  ; 

The  measure  of  thy  rapaciousness  is  full ! 

14  Jehovah  of  hosts  hath  sworn  by  himself,  [saying,] 
Surely  I  will  fill  thee  with  men,  as  with  caterpillars, 
"Who  shall  raise  the  w^ar-shout  against  thee. 

15  He  made  the  earth  by  his  power. 

He  established  the  world  by  his  wisdom. 

And  by  his  understanding  he  spread  out  the  heavens. 

16  When  he  utten-th    his  voice   there  is  an  abundance  of 

water  in  the  heavens; 


132  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  LI. 

He  causeth  clouds  to  ascend  from  the  ends  of  the  earth; 
He  bringeth  the  wind  from  his  storehouses. 

17  Brutish  is  every  man  who  hath  not  this  knowledge; 
By  his  images  is  every  founder  put  to  shame ; 

For  his  molten  work  is  deceit; 
There  is  no  breath  in  it. 

18  Tljey  are  vanity,  deceptive  work ; 

In  the  time  of  their  punishment  shall  they  perish. 

19  Not  like  them  is  he  who  is  the  portion  of  Jacob; 
He  is  the  former  of  all  things, 

And  Israel  is  his  allotted  inheritance. 
Jehovah  of  hosts  is  his  name. 


20  Thou  hast  been  to  me  my  battle-hammer, 
My  weapon  of  war. 

And  with  thee  I  broke  in  pieces  the  nations, 
And  witli  thee  I  destroyed  the  kingdoms. 

21  And  with  thee  I  broke  in  pieces  the  horse  and  his  rider, 
And  with  thee  I  broke  in  pieces  the  chariot  and  its  driver. 

22  With  tliee  I  broke  in  pieces  man  and  woman. 

And  with  thee  I  broke  in  pieces  tlie  old  and  the  young, 
And  with  thee  I  broke  in  pieces  the  young  man  and  the 
maiden. 

23  With  tliee  I  broke  in  pieces  the  shepherd  and  his  flock, 
And  with  tliee  I  broke  in  pieces  the  husbandman  and  his 

team ; 
And  with  thee  I  broke  in  pieces  prefects  and  governors. 

24  But  now  before  your  eyes  will  I  repay  to  Babylon, 
And  to  all  the  inhabitants  of  Clialdiea, 

All  the  evil  which  they  have  done  in  Zion,  saith  Jehovah. 

6. 

25  O  THOU  destroying  mountain,  that  destroyest  the  whole 

earth. 
Behold,  I  am  against  thee,  saith  Jehovah ! 
And  I  will  stretch  out  my  hand  against  thee, 
And  roll  thee  down  from  the  rocks, 
And  make  thee  a  burnt  mountain, 
20  So  tliat   none  shall  take  from  tliee  a  comer-stone,  or  a 
foundation-stone ; 
But  thou  shal-  'y  a  peip-'tual  desolation,  saith  Jehovah. 


^H.  LI.]  JEREMIAH.  133 

27  Set  ye  up  a  standard  in  the  land, 
Sound  a  trumpet  among  the  nations ; 
Enlist  the  nations  against  Babylon, 

Call  together  against  her  the  kingdoms  of  Ararat,  Minni, 

and  Aslichenaz ; 
Appoint  captains  against  her. 
Cause  the  horses  to  come  up  like  the  bristled  locusts ! 

28  Enlist  ye  against  her  the  nations. 

The  kings  of  the  Medes,  and  their  prefects, 

And  all  their  governors, 

And  all  the  lands  under  their  dominion, 

29  So  that  the  earth  shall  tremble  and  quake ! 

For  the  purpose  of  Jehovah   against  Babylon  is-  to  be 

fulfilled, 
To  make  the  land  of  Babylon  a  desolation,  without  an 

inhabitant. 

30  The  mighty  men  of  Babylon  refuse  to  fight ; 
They  remain  in  their  stronghold; 

Their  strength  hath  failed  ; 
They  have  become  women ; 
Her  habitations  are  burned ; 
Her  bars  are  broken. 

31  Courier  runs  to  meet  courier, 
And  messenger  to  meet  messenger. 

To  make  known  to  the  king  of  Babylon, 
That  his  city  is  taken  from  end  to  end ; 

32  That  the  passages  are  taken. 

That  the  reeds  are  burned  with  fire. 

And  that  the  men  of  war  are  struck  with  terror. 

33  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel : 
The  daughter  of  Babylon  shall  be  like  a  thrashing-floor 

when  it  is  thrashed  ; 
Yet  a  little  while,  and  the  time  of  harvest  for  her  shall 
come. 

34  Nebuchadnezzar,  the  king  of  Babylon,  hath  devoured  us 
He  hath  made  an  end  of  us ; 

He  hath  made  us  empty  vessels; 
He  hath  swallowed  us  up  like  a  dragon ; 
He  hath  filled  his  maw  with  our  delicacies ; 
He  hath  cast  us  out. 


134  JEREMIAH.  [CH   LI. 

35  "The  violence  done   to  me   and   to   my  flesh   be   upon 

Babylon ! " 
Shall  the  inhabitant  of  Zion  say  ; 
And,  "  My  blood  be  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Chaldaea !  ** 

shall  Jerusalem  say. 

36  Therefore,  thus  saith  Jehovah : 
Behold,  I  will  maintain  thy  cause, 
And  take  vengeance  for  thee ; 
And  I  will  dry  up  her  sea, 

And  make  her  springs  dry. 

37  And  Babylon  shall  become  heaps, 
The  dwelling-place  of  jackals, 
An  astonishment  and  a  hissing, 
Without  an  inhabitant. 

38  Together  shall  tliey  roar  like  lions ; 
They  shall  yell  like  lions'  whelps. 

39  In  their  heat  I  will  prepare  them  a  drink, 

And  will  make  them  drunk,  so  that  they  shall  rejoice, 
And  tlien  sleep  an  everlasting  sleep. 
And  awake  no  more,  saith  Jehovah. 

40  I  will  bring  tliein  down  like  lambs  to  the  slaughter, 
Like  rams  with  he-goats. 

41  How  is  Shesliach  taken  ! 

How  is  the  praise  of  the  whole  earth  fallen ! 
How   is    Babylon    become   an    astonishment   among   the 
nations ! 

42  The  sea  is  come  up  over  Babylon ; 

With  the  roaring  of  its  waves  is  she  covered. 

43  Her  cities  have  become  a  desolation, 
A  dry  land  and  a  desert, 

A  land  in  which  no  man  dwelleth. 

And  which  no  son  of  man  passeth  through. 

44  I  will  punish  Bel  at  Babylon, 

And  bring  forth  from  his  mouth  that  which  he  hath  swal- 
lowed. 
And  the  nations  shall  flow  to  him  no  more  ; 
Even  the  wall  of  Babylon  shall  fall. 

45  Go  ye  out  of  her,  my  people, 
Mid  save  ye  every  man  his  life 
From  the  Herce  anser  of  Jehovah  ! 


CH.  LI.]  JEREMIAH.  135 

46  And  let  not  your  heart  faint, 

And   fear  ye  not  on  account  of  the   rumors  which   are 

heard  in  the  land, 
When  in  one  year  a  rumor  cometh. 
And  after  it  in  another  year  another  rumor, 
And  violence  is  in  the  land, 
Ruler  against  ruler. 

47  Therefore,  behold  the  days  come 

When  I  will  punish  the  graven  images  of  Babylon, 
And  her  whole  land  shall  be  confounded ; 
And  all  her  slain  shall  fall  in  the  midst  of  her. 

48  Then  the  heavens  shall  shout  over  Babylon, 
And  the  earth  and  all  that  is  therein ; 

For  out  of  the  North  come  spoilers  against   her,  saith 
Jehovah. 

49  As  Babylon  caused  the  slain  of  Israel  to  fall, 

So  at  Babylon  shall  fall  the  slain  of  all  the  land. 

50  Ye  that  have  escaped  her  sword,  go ! 
Tarry  not ! 

Remember  Jehovah  afar  off, 

And  let  Jerusalem  come  into  your  mind ! 

51  We  have  been  confounded,  because  we  have  heard  re- 

proach ; 
Shame  hath  covered  our  faces. 
For  strangers  have  come  into  the  sanctuaries  of  the  houso 

of  Jehovah. 

52  Tlierefore.  behold,  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah, 
When  I  will  punish  her  graven  images, 

And  through  all  her  land  shall  the  wounded  groan. 

53  Though  Babylon  should  mount  up  to  the  heavens, 
And  make  inaccessible  the  height  of  her  strength, 

Yet  fiom  me  shall  spoilers  come  upon  her,  saith  Jehovah. 

54  Hark  !  a  cry  from  Babylon, 

Of  great  destruction  from  the  land  of  the  ChaldgeansI 

55  For  Jehovah  destroyeth  Babylon, 

And  bringeth  to  silence  her  loud  tumult ; 
Their  waves  roar  like  great  waters ; 
Their  tumultuous  noise  resounds. 

56  For  the  spoiler  is  come  upon  her,  upon  Babylon; 


136  JEREMIAH.  [cn  LI. 

And  their  mighty  men  are  taken, 
And  all  their  bows  are  broken  ; 
For  Jehovah  is  a  God  of  retribution ; 
He  will  surely  requite. 

57  And  I  will  make  drunk  her  princes,  and  her  wise  men, 
Her  prefects,  and  her  governors,  and  her  mighty  men ; 
And  they  shall  sleep  an  everlasting  sleep. 

And  shall  no  more  awake,  saith  the  Kjpg 
Whose  name  is  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

58  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  : 

The  broad  walls  of  Babylon  shall  be  razed  to  the  founda- 
tions, 
And  her  high  gates  shall  be  burned  with  fire ; 
So  that  nations  shall  have  labored  for  naught, 
And  kingdoms  have  wearied  themselves  for  fire. 


59  The  word  which  Jeremiah  the  prophet  commanded 
Seraiah,  the  son  of  Neriah,  the  son  of  Maaseiah,  when  he 
went  with  Zedekiah,  the  king  of  Judah,  into  Babylon,  in 
the  fourth    year  of  his  reign.     This    Seraiah  was  chief 

60  chamberlain.  And  Jeremiah  wrote  all  the  evil  that  was 
to  come  upon  Babylon  in  one  book,  all  these  words  that 

61  are  written  concerning  Babylon.  And  Jeremiah  said  to 
Seraiah,  Wlien  thou  comest  to  Babylon,  see  that  thou  read 

62  all  these  words,  and  say,  O  Jehovah,  thou  hast  spoken 
against  this  phice  to  destroy  it,  so  that  none  shall  remain 
in  it,  neither  man  nor  beast,  but  that  it  sliall  remain  deso- 

63  late  forever !  And  when  thou  hast  made  an  end  of  read- 
ing tliis  book,  bind  a  stone  upon  it,  and  cast  it  into  the 

64  midst  of  the  Euphrates,  and  say :  So  shall  Babylon  sink, 
and  shall  not  rise  again  from  the  evil  which  I  bring  upon 
her.     And  they  shall  utterly  fail. 

Thus  far  the  words  of  Jeremiah. 


CH.  Lll.]  JEREMIAH.  137 


XLIV. 

An  appendix,  c6ntaining  an  account  of  tlie  destraction  of  Jerusalem.  — 
Ch.  LII. 

1  Zedekiah  was  one  and  twenty  years  old  when  he  be- 
ji^an  to  reign,  and  he  reigned  eleven  years  in  Jerusalem. 
The  name  of  his  mother  was  Hamutal,  the  daughter  of 

2  Jeremiah  of  Libnah.  And  he  did  that  which  was  evil  in 
the  eyes  of  Jehovah,  according  to  all  that  Jehoiakim  had 

3  done.  Foi-,  through  the  anger  of  Jehovah,  it  was  so  with 
Judah  and  Jerusalem  that  at  length  he  cast  them  forth 
from  his  presence.  And  Zedekiah  rebelled  against  the 
king  of  Babylon. 


4  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  ninth  year  of  his  reign,  ia 
the  tenth  month,  in  the  tenth  day  of  the  month,  that  Neb- 
uchadnezzar, the  king  of  Babylon,  came,  he  and  all  his 
army,  against  Jerusalem,  and  encamped    against  it,  and 

5  built   forts    against  it  round   about.     And   the   city  was 

6  besieged  until  the  .eleventh  year  of  King  Zedekiah.  And 
in  the  fourth  month,  in  the  ninth  day  of  the  month,  the 
famine  was  sore  in  the  city,  so  that  there  was  no  bread 

7  for  the  people  of  the  land.  And  the  city  was  broken 
into;  and  all  the  men  of  war  fled,  and  went  out  of  the 
city  by  night,  by  the  way  of  the  gate  between  the  two 
walls,  which  is  by  the  king's  garden,  (whilst  the  Chaldae- 
ans  were  by  the  city  round  about,)  and  they  went  toward 

8  the  plain.  But  the  army  of  the  Chalda^ans  pursued  the 
king,  and  overtook    Zedekiah   in   the   plains   of  Jericho; 

9  and  all  his  army  was  scattered  from  him.  And  they  took 
the  king,  and  carried  him  up  to  the  king  of  Babylon,  to 
Riblah,  in  the  land  of  Hamath ;  where  he  gave  judgment 

10  upon  him.  And  the  king  of  Babylon  slew  the  sons  of 
Zedekiah  before  his  eyes.     He  slew  also  all  the  princes  of 

11  Judah,  in  Riblah.  And  he  put  out  the  eyes  of  Zedekiah, 
and  bound  him  in  chains ;  and  the  king  of  Babylon  car- 
ried him  to  Babylon,  and  put  him  in  prison  till  the  day  of 
his  death. 

12  And  in  the  fifth  month,  on  the  tenth  day  of  the  month. 


138  JEREMIAH.  [CH.  Lii. 

(^it  was  the  nineteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  Nebuchadnez- 
zar, the  king  of  Babylon,)  came  Nebuzaradan,  captain  of 
the  guard,  one  that  stood  in  the  presence  of  the   king 

13  of  Babylon,  to  Jerusalem.  And  he  burned  the  house  of 
Jehovah,  and  the  king's  house ;  and  all  the  houses  at  Jeru- 

14  salem,  all  the  great  houses,  burned  he  with  fire.  And  all 
the  army  of  the  Chaldteans  that  was  with  the  captain  of 
the  guard  brake  down  all  the  walls  of  Jerusalem  round 

15  about.  And  some  of  the  poor  of  the  people,  and  the  rest 
of  the  people  that  were  left  in  the  city,  and  the  deserters 
that  had  gone  over  to  the  king  of  Babylon,  even  the 
remainder  of  the  multitude,  did  Nebuzaradan,  the  captain 

16  of  the  guard,  carry  away  captive.  But  some  of  the  poor 
of  the  land  did  Nebuzaradan,  the  captain  of  the  guard, 
leave  for  vine-dressers   and   for  husbandmen.     And   the 

17  pillars  of  brass  that  were  in  the  house  of  Jehovah,  and 
the  bases,  and  the  brazen  sea  that  was  in  the  house  of 
Jehovah,  the  Clialda;aus  brake,  and  carried  all  the  brass 

18  of  them  to  Babylon.  The  caldrons  also,  and  the  shovels, 
and  the  snuffers,  and  the  bowls,  and  the  pans,  and  all  the 
vessels  of  brass  which  were  used  in  ministering,  did  they 

19  take  away.  And  tlie  basins,  and  the  fire-pans,  and  the 
bowls,  and  the  caldrons,  and  the  candlesticks,  and  the 
censers,  and  the  cups,  and  wliatever  was  of  gold  or  silver, 

20  did  the  captain  of  the  guard  take  away.  The  two  pillars, 
the  sea,  and  the  twelve  brazen  bulls  that  were  under  the 
bases,  which  King  Solomon  made  in  the  house  of  Jeho- 

21  vah,  the  brass  from  all  these  was  beyond  weight.  For  as 
to  the  pillars,  eighteen  cubits  in  height  was  the  one  pillar, 
and  a  line  of  twelve  cubits  measured  it  round,  and  their 

22  thickness  was  four  fingers,  being  hollow.  And  a  chapiter 
of  brass  was  upon  them ;  and  the  height  of  one  chapiter 
was  five  cubits ;  and  there  was  network  with  pomegran- 
ates upon  the  chapiter  all  round,  the  whole  of  brass.  The 
second  pillar  also,  and  the  pomegranates,  were  like  unto 

23  these.  And  the  pomegranates  were  ninety  and  six  to- 
ward every  wind ;  all  the  pomegranates  were  an  hundred 
upon  the  network  round  about. 

24  And  the  captain  of  the  guard  took  Seraiah,  the  chief 
priest,  and    Zephaniah,  the  second   priest,  and  the  three 

25  keepers  of  the  door ;  and  out  of  the  city  he  took  a  eunuch 


•DH.  Lll.]  JEKE3IIAH.  189 

who  liad  charge  over  the  men  of  war,  and  seven  men  of 
those  that  were  near  the  king's  person,  who  were  found  in 
the  city,  and  the  principal  scribe  of  the  host,  who  mus- 
tered the  people  of  the  land,  and  threescore  men  of  the 
people  of  the  land,  who  were  found  in  the  midst  of  the 

26  city ;  these,  Nebuzaradan,  captain  of  the  guard,  took,  and 

27  brought  to  the  king  of  Babylon  at  Riblah.  And  the  king 
of  Babylon  smote  them,  and  put  them  to  death  in  Riblah 
in  the  land  of  Hamath.  Thus  was  Judah  carried  away 
captive  out  of  their  own  land. 

28  This  is  the  people  whom  Nebuchadnezzar  carried 
away  captive :   in  the  seventh  year,  three  thousand  and 

29  twenty-three  Jews;  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  Nebuchad- 
nezzar, he  carried  away  captive  from  Jerusalem  eight  hun- 

30  dred  and  thirty-two  persons  ;  in  the  three  and  twentieth 
year  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  Nebuzaradan,  captain  of  the 
guard,  carried  away  captive  of  the  Jews  seven  hundred 
forty  and  five  persons.  All  the  persons  were  four  thousand 
and  six  hundred. 

31  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  thirty  and  seventh  year  of 
the  captivity  of  Jehoiachin,  the  king  of  Judah,  in  the 
twelfth  month,  on  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  the  month,  that 
Evil-meiodach,  the  king  of  Babylon,  in  the  first  year  of 
liis  reign,  lifted  up  the  head  of  Jehoiachin,  king  of  Judah, 

32  and  brought  him  fprth  out  of  prison,  and  spoke  kindly  to 
him,  and  set  his  seat  above  the  seat  of  the  kings  that 

33  were  with  him  in  Babylon,  and  changed  his  prison  gar- 
ments ;  and  he  ate  bread  before  him  all  the  days  of  his 

34  life.  And  a  constant  allowance  was  given  him  by  the 
king  of  Babylon,  a  portion  every  day,  until  the  day  of  his 
death,  all  the  days  of  his  life. 


LAMENTATIONS. 


A  lamentation  concerning  the  capture  of  Jerusalem  and  the  captivity  of  ita 
inhabitants.  —  Ch.  I. 

1  How  doth  the  city  sit  solitary,  that  was  full  of  people  I 
How  is  she  become  as  a  widow ! 

She  that  was  great  among  the  nations,  and  princess  among 

the  province.^. 
How  is  she  become  tributary ! 

2  She  weepeth  bitterly  in  the  night ;  tears  are  upon  her 

cheeks ; 
Among  all  her  lovers  she  hath  no  comforter ; 
All  her  friends  have  dealt  treacherously  with  her;  they 

have  become  her  enemies. 

3  Judah  goeth  into  exile,  because  of  affliction  and  because 

of  great  servitude ; 
She  dwelleth  among  the  nations,  she  findeth  no  rest; 
All  her  pursuers  overtake  her  in  the  straits. 

4  The  ways   to  Zion  mourn,  because  none  come  to  the 

solemn  feasts ; 
All  her  gates  are  desolate,  her  priests  sigh, 
Her  virgins  wail,  and  she  is  in  bitterness. 

5  Her  adversaries   have  become  the  head;  her  enemies 

prosper ; 
For  Jehovah  hath  afflicted  her  for  the  multitude  of  her 

transgressions ;  a 

Her  children  are  gone  into  captivity  before  the  enemy. 


CH.  I.]  LAMENTATIONS.  141 

6  From  the  daughter  of  Zion  all  her  beauty  is  departed ; 
Her  princes  are  become  like  harts,  that  find  no  pasture ; 
Without  strength,  they  flee  before  the  pursuer. 

7  Jerusalem  reraembereth,  in  the  days  of  her  affliction  and 

of  her  oppression, 
All  her  pleasant  things,  which  she  had  in  the  days  of  old, 
When  her  people  fell  into  the  hand  of  the  enemy,  and  she 

had  no  helper ; 
Her  adversaries  saw  her,  and  mocked  at  her  destruction. 

8  Jerusalem    hath   gi'ievously   sinned;    therefore   is   she 

become  vile ; 
All  that  honored  her  despise  her,  because  they  have  seen 

her  shame ; 
She  sigheth,  and  turneth  backward. 

9  Her  filthiness  is  upon  her  skirts ; 

She  thought  not  of  her  end,  therefore  is  she  brought 
down  wonderfully ;  she  hath  no  comforter. 

"Behold,  O  Jehovah,  my  affliction,  for  the  enemy  doth 
triumph ! " 

10  The  adversary  spreadeth  his  hands  over  all  her  pleasant 

things  ; 
Yea,  she  seeth  the  nations  enter  into  her  sanctuary, 
Concerning  whom  thou  didst  command  that  they  should 

not  enter  into  her  congregation. 

11  All  her  people  sigh  ;  they  seek  bread  ; 

They  give  their  precious  things  for  bread  to  sustain  life. 
"Behold,  0  Jehovah,  and   consider,  how  I  am   become 
vile!" 

12  "  Is  it  nothing  to  you,  all  ye  that  pass  by  ? 

Behold,  and   see,   if  there   be   any   sorrow   like   to   my 

sorrow,  which  is  brought  upon  me. 
With  which  Jehovah  hath  afflicted  me  in  the  day  of  his 

fierce  anger ! 

13  "  From  on  high  hath  he  sent  fire  into  my  bones,  and  it 

prevailed  against  them : 


142  LAMENTATIONS.  [ch.  i. 

He  hath  spread  a  net  for  my  feet ;  he  hath  turned  me 

back; 
He  hath  made  me  desolate,  faint  all  the  day  long. 

14  "The  yoke  of  my  transgressions   is   fastened   in    his 

hand  ;  they  are  twisted  together ; 
They  are  laid  upon  my  neck ;  he  hath  made  my  strength 

to  fall; 
The  Lord   hath  delivered   me  into  their  hands,  against 

whom  I  cannot  stand. 

15  "  The  Lord  hath  trodden  under  foot  all  my  mighty  men 

in  the  midst  of  me ; 
He  hath   called   an   assembly  against  me  to  crush  my 

young  men ; 
The  Lord  hath  trodden  down  the  virgin,  the  daughter  of 

Judah,  as  in  a  wine-vat. 

16  "  For  these  things  do  I  weep  ;  mine  eye  runneth  down 

with  water ; 
For  far  from  me  are  they  that  should  comfort  me,  that 

should  restore  my  strength  ; 
My   children    have   perished,    because   the   enemy   pre- 
vailed." 

17  Zion  spreadeth  forth  her  hands,  and  there  is  none  to 

comfort  her ; 
Jehovah  hath   given    command   against  Jacob,   that   his 

adversaries  should  be  round  about  him ; 
Jerusalem  is  become  an  abhorrence  among  them. 

18  "  Righteous  is  Jehovah,  for  I  have  disobeyed  his  com- 

mandment ; 
Hear,  I  pray  you,  all  ye  nations,  and  behold  my  sorrow ! 
My  virgins  and  my  young  men  are  gone  into  captivity. 

19  "  I  called  upon  my  lovers,  but  they  have  proved  false 

to  me; 
My  priests  and  my  elders  have  expired  in  the  city, 
While  they  sought  for  food  to  sustain  their  lives. 

20  "  Behold,  O  Jehovah,  how  I  am  distressed !  my  bowels 

boil. 


CH.  II.]  LAMENTATIONS.  143 

My  heart  turneth  itself  within  me ;  for  I  have  grievously 

rebelled. 
Abroad  the  sword  bereaveth ;  at  home,  Death. 

21  "  They  hear  how  I  sigh,  yet  none  comforteth  me ; 

All  mine  enemies  have  heard  of  my  calamity ;  they  rejoice 

that  thou  hast  done  it. 
O  bring  the  day  which  thou  hast  appointed,  that  they 

shall  be  like  me ! 

22  "  Let  all  their  wickedness  come  before  thee, 

And  deal  thou  with  them  as  thou  hast  dealt  with  me  for 

all  my  transgressions  ! 
For  my  sighs  are  many,  and  my  heart  is  faint." 


n. 

Lamentation  concerning  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem.  —  Ch.  IL 

1       How  hath  the  Lord  in  his  anger  covered  with  a  cloud 

the  daughter  of  Zion ! 
He  hath  cast  down   from   heaven  to  earth  the  glory  of 

Israel, 
And  hath  not  remembered  his  footstool  in  the  day  of  his 

anger. 

2  The  Lord  hath  swallowed  up  without  pity  all  the  habi- 

tations of  Jacob ; 
He  hath  thrown  down  in  his  wrath  the  strongholds  of  the 

daughter  of  Judah ; 
He  hath  brought  down  to  the  ground,  he  hath  profaned 

the  kingdom  and  its  princes. 

3  He  hath  cut  off,  in  his  fierce  anger,  every  horn  of 

Israel ; 
He  hath  drawn  back  his  right  hand  from  the  face  of  the 

enemy, 
And  hath  burned  against  Jacob  like  a  flaming  fire,  whicb 

devoureth  round  about. 


144  LAMENTATIONS.  [ch.  ii. 

4  He  bent  his  bow  like  an  enemy ; 

He  stood  witli  his  right  hand  as  an  adversary,  and  slew 

all  that  was  pleasant  to  the  eye ; 
Upon  the  tent  of  the  daughter  of  Ziou  he  poured  out  his 

fury  like  fire. 

5  The  Lord  is  become  as  an  enemy ;  he  hath  swallowed 

up  Israel ; 
He  hath  swallowed  up  all  his  palaces ;  he  hath  destroyed 

his  strongholds ; 
And  hath  multiplied  in  the  daughter  of  Judah  mourning 

and  lamentation. 

6  He  hath  violently  torn  away  his  hedge,  like  the  hedge 

of  a  garden ;  he  hath  destroyed  his  place  of  con- 
gregation ; 

Jehovah  hath  caused  the  solemn  feast  and  the  sabbath  to 
be  forgotten  in  Zion  ; 

He  hath  despised,  in  his  fierce  anger,  the  king  and  the 
priest. 

7  The  Lord  hath  cast  off  his  altar ;  he  hath  abhorred  his 

holy  place ; 
He  hath  given  up  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  the  walls 

of  Zion's  palaces ; 
They  have  lifted  up  the  voice  in  the  house  of  Jehovah,  as 

in  the  day  of  a  solemn  feast. 

8  Jehovah   hath    purposed   to   destroy  the  wall   of  the 

daughter  of  Zion ; 
He  hath  stretched  out  the  line,  he  hath  not  withdrawn 

his  hand  from  destroying ; 
He  hath  made  the  rampart  and  the  wall  to  lament ; 
They  languish  together. 

9  Her  gates  are  sunk  into  the  earth ;  he  hath  destroyed 

and  broken  her  bars ; 
Her  king  and  her  princes  are  among  the  nations ; 
The  law  is  no  more ; 
Her  prophets  also  find  no  vision  from  Jehovah. 

10      The  elders  of  the  .daughter  of  Zion  sit  upon  the  ground 
in  silence ; 


CH.  ii.J  LAMENTATIONS.  145 

They  have  cast  dust  upon  their  heads ;  they  have  girded 

themselves  with  sackcloth ; 
The  virgins  of  Jerusalem  hang  down  their  heads  to  the 

ground. 

11  Mine  eyes  do  fail  with  tears  ;  ray  bowels  boil ; 

My  liver  is  poured  out  upon  the  ground  on  account  of 
the  destruction  of  the  daughter  of  my  people ; 

For  the  children  and  sucklings  faint  in  the  streets  of  the 
city. 

12  They   say   to   their   mothers,   "Where    is    corn    and 

wine?" 
While  they  faint,  as  one  wounded,  in  the  streets  of  the 

city; 
While  their  life  is  poured  out  into  their  mother's  bosom. 

13  How  shall  I  address  thee  ?  what  shall  I  liken  to  thee, 

O  daughter  of  Jerusalem  ? 
With  what  shall  I  compare  thee,  so  as  to  comfort  thee,  O 

virgin  daughter  of  Zion  ? 
Surely  thy  breach  is  wide,  like  the  sea;  who  can  heal 

thee .? 

14  Thy  prophets  declare  to  thee  that  which  is  vain  and 

false ; 

They  lay  not  open  to  thee  thine  iniquity,  to  bring  back 
thy  captivity ; 

They  pronounce  to  thee  prophecies  of  falsehood  and  se- 
duction. 

15  All  that  pass  by  clap  their  hands  at  thee ; 

They  hiss,  and  shake  their  heads  at  the  daughter  of  Je- 
rusalem. 
*'  Is  this  the  city  that  men  called  the  perfection  of  beauty, 
The  joy  of  the  whole  earth?  "    - 

16  All  thine  enemies  open  their  mouths  against  thee ; 
They  hiss  and  gnash  the  teeth ; 

They  say :  "  We  have  swallowed  her  up  ; 
Yea,  this  is  the  day  that  we  looked  for ;  we  have  found, 
we  have  seen  it." 

VOL.    II.  7 


146  LAMENTATIONS.  [cH.  IL 

17  Jehovah  hath  accomplished  that  which  he  had  devised  ; 
He  hath  fulfilled  his  word,  which  he  had  commanded  in 

the  days  of  old  ; 
He  hath  thrown  down  and  hath  not  pitied ; 
He  hath  caused  thine  enemy  to  rejoice  over  thee ;  he  hath 

exalted  the  horn  of  thine  adversaries.  - 

18  Their  heart  crieth  O'lt  to  the  Lord. 

O  wall  of  the  daughter  of  Zion,  let  thy  tears  run  down  like 

a  river  day  and  night ! 
Give  thyself  no  rest!    let   not   the   apple  of  thine   eye 

cease ! 

19  Arise,  cry  aloud  in  the  night  at  the  beginning  of  the 

watches ! 
Pour  out  thy  heart  like  water  before  the  face  of  Jehovah! 
Lift  up  thy  hands  to  him  for  the  life  of  thy  young  children, 
That  faint  for  hunger  at  the  head  of  all  the  streets ! 

20  "  Behold,  O  Jehovah,  and  consider !     With  whom  hast 

thou  dealt  thus  ? 
Shall  women  eat  the  fruit  of  the  womb,  children  borne  in 

the  arms  ? 
Shall  the  priest  and  the  prophet  be  slain  in  the  holy  place 
of  the  Lord? 

21  "The  boy  and  the  old  man  lie  on  the  ground  in  the 

streets ; 
My  virgins  and  my  young  men  are  follen  by  the  sword ; 
Thou  hast  slain  them  in  the  day  of  thine  anger ; 
Thou  hast  killed,  and  hast  shown  no  mercy. 

22  "Thou   hast   called,   as   on   a   festal   day,   my  terrors 

around  me ; 
There  was  not  one,  in  the  day  of  Jehovah's  anger,  that 

escaped  or  was  left ; 
Those  whom  I  have  borne" in  my  arms  and  brought  up 

hath  my  enemy  consumed." 


CH.  lil.J  LAMENTATIONS.  147 

m. 

Jeremiah  bewaileth  his  calamiities.  —  Ch.  III. 

i       I  AM  the  man  that  hath  seen  affliction  under  the  rod  of 
His  wrath ; 

2  He  hath  led  me  and  brought  me  into  darkness,  and  not 

into  light ; 

3  Yea,  against  me  doth  he  again  and  again  turn  his  hand 

all  the  day  long. 

4  My  flesh  and  my  skin  hath  he  made  old;  he  hath  bro- 

ken my  bones. 

5  He  hath  builded  against  me,  and  encompassed  me  with 

bitterness  and  woe. 

6  He  hath  set  me  in  dark  places,  as  those  that  have  long 

been  dead. 

7  He  hath  hedged  me  about,  so  that  I  cannot  get  out ;  he 

hath  made  my  chain  heavy ; 

8  Yea,  when  I  cry  and  cull   aloud,  he   shutteth    out   my 

prayer. 

9  He  blocketh  up  my  way  with  hewn  stone ;  he  maketh 

my  paths  crooked. 

10  A  bear  lying  in  wait  hath  he  been  to  me,  a  lion  in  lurk- 

ing-places ; 

11  He  hath  turned  aside  my  ways,  and  torn  me  in  pieces ; 

he  hath  made  me  desolate. 

12  He  hath  bent  his  bow,  and  set  me  as  a  mark  for  the 

arrow. 

13  He  hath  caused  the  sons  of  his  quiver  to  pierce  my  reins. 

14  I  have  been  a  laughing-stock  to  all  my  people,  their  song 

all  the  day. 

15  He   hath   filled   me  with  bitterness;  he  hath  made  me 

drunk  with  wormwood. 

16  He  hath  also  broken  my  teeth  with  gravel-stones ; 
He  hath  covered  me  with  ashes. 

17  Yea,  thou  hast  removed  my  soul  far  from  peace ;  I  have 

forgotten  prosperity. 


148  'lamentations.  [ch.  m. 

18  And  I  say,  "  My  confidence  and  my  hope  in  Jehovah  are 

gone ! " 

19  Remember  my  aflliction  and  my  misery,  the  wormwood 

and  the  gall! 

20  Yea,  thou  wilt  remember  them,  for  my  soul  sinketh  with- 

in me ! 

21  This  I  recall  to  my  mind ;  therefore  have  I  hope ; 

22  It  is  of  the  mercy  of  Jehovah   that  we  are  not  con- 

sumed;  yea,  his  compassion  faileth  not; 

23  It  is  new  every  morning ;  great  is  thy  faithfulness. 

24  Jehovah  is  my  portion,  saith  my  soul,  therefore  do  I  hope 

in  him. 

25  Jehovah  is  good  to  them  that  trust  in  him,  to  the  soul 

that  seeketh  him. 

26  It  is  good  that  a  man  hope,  and  quietly  wait  for  salvation 

from  Jehovah. 

27  It  is  good  for  a  man  that  he  bear  the  yoke  in  his  youth ; 

28  That  he  sit  alone  and  keep  silence,  since  He  layeth  it 

upon  him ; 

29  That  he  put  his  mouth  in  the  dust,  [saying  to  himself,] 

"  Perhaps  there  may  be  hope  !  " 

30  That  he  offer  his  cheek  to  the  smiter ;  that  he  be  filled 

with  reproach. 

31  For  the  Lord  will  not  cast  off  forever ; 

32  For  though  he  cause  grief,  yet  doth  he  have  compassion 

according  to  his  great  mercy  ; 

33  For  he  doth  not  willingly  afflict  and  grieve  the  children 

of  men. 

34  Doth  one  trample  under  foot  all  the  prisoners  of  the 

earth, 

35  Doth  he  bend  the  right  of  a  man  before  the  face  of  the 

Most  High, 

36  Doth  he  subvert  a  man  in  his  cause,  and  shall  not  the 

Lord  behold  it  ? 

87       Who  is  he  that  saith,  and  it  cometh  to  pass,  when  the 
Lord  hath  not  commanded  ? 


CH.  III.]  LAMENTATIONS.  149 

38  Cometh  not  evil,  as  well  as  good,  from  the  mouth  of  the 

Most  High  ? 

39  Wherefore  then  murmureth  the  living  man?     Let  hiiu 

murmur  at  his  own  sin ! 

40  Let  us  search  and  try  our  ways,  and  turn  again  to 

Jehavah ! 

41  Let  us  lift  up  our  hearts  with  our  hands  to  God  in  the 

heavens ! 

42  We  have  transgressed ;  we  have  rebelled ;  thou  hast  not 

forgiven ! 

43  Thou  hast  hidden  thyself  in  anger,  and  hast  pursued 

us ;  thou  hast  slain  and  hast  not  spared ; 

44  Thou  hast  hidden  thyself  in  a  cloud,  that  our  prayer  may 

not  pass  through ; 

45  Thou  hast  made  us  the  ofFscouring   and   refuse   in   the 

midst  of  the  nations. 

46  All  our  enemies  have  opened  their  mouths  against  us ; 

47  Terror  and  the  pit  have  come  upon  us,  desolation  and 

destruction ; 

48  Mine  eye  runneth  down  with  streams  of  water  for  the 

destruction  of  the  daughter  of  my  people. 

49  Mine  eye  trickleth  down  and  ceaseth  not,  without  any 

intermission, 

50  Until  Jehovah  look  down  and  behold  from  heaven. 

51  Mine  eye  is  painful  to  me  on  account  of  all  the  daughters 

of  my  city. 

52  They   that   are   my  enemies  without  cause   hunt   me 

down  like  a  bird  ; 

53  They  take  away  my  life  in   the  dungeon;   they  cast  a 

stone  upon  me ; 

54  Waters  flow  over  ray  head  ;  I  say,  "  I  am  undone ! " 

55  I  call  upon  thy  name,  0  Jehovah,  from  the  deep  dun- 

geon ; 

56  Hear  thou  my  voice !  hide  not  thine  ear  from  my  cry  for 

relief! 

57  Be  near  to  me,  when  I  call  upon  thee !     Say,  "  Fear 

not!" 


150  LAMENTATIONS.  [cu.  IV. 

58  Thou  maiiitainest  my  cause,  O  Lord;  thou  redeemest 

my  life ! 

59  Thou,  O  Jehovah,  seest  the  wrong  done  to  me ; 
Maintain  thou  my  cause  ! 

60  Thou  seest  all  their  vengeance,  all  their  devices  against  me, 

61  Thou  hearest  their  reproach,  0  Jehovah,  all  their  de- 

vices against  me, 

62  The   words   of  m}'  adversaries,   and   their   machinations 

against  me  all  the  day  long! 

63  Behold  their  sitting  down  and  their  rising  up !    I  am  their 

song. 

64  Render  to  them  a  recompense,  O  Jehovah,  according 

to  the  work  of  their  hands  ! 

65  Give  them  blindness  of  mind  !  thy  curse  be  upon  them ! 

66  Pursue   them    in    thine    anger,  and   destroy  them   from 

under  Jehovah's  heaven ! 


IV. 

Lamentation  concerning  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  and  the  sufferings  of 
her  inhabitants. —  Ch.  IV. 

1  How  is  the  gold   become  dim !   how  is  the  most  fine 

gold  changed ! 
The  hallowed  stones  are  cast  forth  at  the  head  of  every 

street. 

2  The  noble  sons  of  Zion,  comparable  to  fine  gold. 

How  are  they  esteemed  as  earthen  pitchers,  the  work  of 
the  hands  of  the  potter ! 

3  The  very  jackals  reach  forth  the  breast ;  they  suckle 

their  young ; 
But  the  daughter  of  my  people  is  become  cruel,  like  the 
ostriches  of  the  desert. 

4  The  tongue  of  the  sucking  child  cleaveth  to  the  roof  of 

his  mouth  for  thirst ; 
Young  children  ask  for  bread,  and  no  man  breaketh  it  for 
them. 


CH.  IV.]  LAMENTATIONS.  151 

5  Those  that  fed  on  dainties  are  desolate  in  the  streets ; 
Those  that  have  been  brought  up  in  scarlet  embrace  the 

dunghill. 

6  The   punishment   of  the    daughter   of  my   people   is 

greater  than  the  punishment  of  Sodom, 
Which  was  overthrown  in  a  moment,  though  no  hands 
came  against  her. 

7  Her  princes  were  purer  than  snow,  whiter  than  milk ; 
More  ruddy  than  coral  was  their  body ; 

Their  visage  was  of  sapphire. 

8  Now  darker  than  a  coal  is  their  countenance ;  they  are 

not  known  in  the  streets. 
Their  skin  cleaveth  to  their  bones ;  it  is  become  dry,  liko 
wood.  ( 

9  More  fortunate  are  the  slain   by  the  sword  than  the 

slain  by  famine ; 
For  these  pine  away,  stricken  through  for  want  of  the 
fruits  of  the  held. 

10  The  hands  of  tender-hearted  women  cooked  their  own 

children  ; 
They  were  their  food,  in  the  destruction  of  the  daughter 
of  my  people. 

11  Jehovah    hath    spent   upon    them   his    fury;    he   hatli 

poured  out  his  fierce  anger  ; 
He  hath  kindled  a  fire  in  Zion,  which  hath  devoured  its 
foundations. 

12  The  kings  of  the  earth  believed  not,  nor  all  the  inhab- 

itants of  the  world, 
That  the  adversary  would  enter,  and  the  enemy,  within 
the  gates  of  Jerusalem. 

13  It  was  on  account  of  the  sins  of  her  prophets,  and  the 

iniquities  of  her  priests, 
Who  shed  in  the  midst  of  her  the  blood  of  the  righteous. 


152  LAMENTATIONS.  [cH.  iv. 

14  They  stumbled  like  blind  men  through  the  streets,  pol- 

luted with  blood, 
So  that  men  could  not  touch  their  garments. 

15  "  Depart !    unclean ! "   men  cried  to  them.     "  Depart, 

depart,  touch  not !  " 
As  they  fled,  they  stumbled ;  men  said  among  the  nations, 
"They  shall  dwell  there  no  more." 

16  The  anger  of  Jehovah  hath  scattered  them;  he  will  no 

more  care  for  them ; 
They  paid  no  regard  to  the  priests,  they  had  no  compas- 
sion for  the  elders. 

17  Still  did  our  eyes  fail,  looking  for  help  in  vain  ; 

On  our  watch-tower  did  we  watch  for  a  nation  that  could 
not  save  us. 

18  They  laid  snares  for  our  steps,  so  that  we  could  not  go 

in  our  streets ; 
Our  end  is  near;  our  days  are  accomplished,  yea,  our  end 
is  come ! 

19  Swifter  were  our  pursuers  than  the  eagles  of  heaven; 
They  chased  us  upon  the  mountains ;  they  laid  wait  for 

us  in  the  wilderness. 

20  The  breath  of  our  nostrils,  the  anointed  of  Jehovah,  was 

taken  in  their  pits, 
Under  whose  shadow  we  said  that  we  should  live  among 
the  nations. 

21  Rejoice  and  be  glad,  O  daughter  of  Edom,  that  dwell- 

est  in  the  land  of  Uz  ! 
Yet   to   thee    also   shall    the  cup   come !   thou  shalt   be 
drunken,  and  shalt  expose  thy  nakedness. 

22  Thy  punishment  is  at  an  end,  O  daughter  of  Zion!  no 

more  will  he  carry  thee  into  captivity; 
But  thine  iniquity  will  he  punish,  0  daughter  of  Edom! 
he  will  uncover  thy  sins. 


CH.  V.J  LAMENTATIONS.  153 


liamentation  concerning  the  sufferings  inflicted  upon  the  Jews  by  their 
conquerors.  —  Ch.  V. 

1  Remember,  O  Jehovah,  what  is  come  upon  us  I 
Look  down  and  behold  our  reproach ! 

2  Our  inheritance  is  fallen  to  strangers, 
Our  houses  to  aliens. 

3  We  are  orphans ;  we  are  without  a  father ; 
Our  mothers  are  as  widows. 

4  Our  water  we  drink  for  money ; 
Our  wood  is  sold  to  us. 

5  With  the  yoke  upon  our  necks,  we  are  driven ; 
We  are  wearied,  and  have  no  rest. 

6  We  have  given  the  hand  to  the  Egyptians, 
And  to  the  Assyrians,  to  be  satisfied  with  bread. 

7  Our  fathers  sinned ;  they  are  no  more, 
And  we  bear  their  iniquities. 

8  Servants  rule  over  us  ; 

There  is  none  that  delivereth  out  of  their  hand. 

9  With  the  peril  of  our  lives  we  get  our  bread, 
Because  of  the  sword  of  the  wilderness. 

10  Our  skin  is  parched  like  an  oven 
Because  of  the  burnings  of  hunger. 

11  Matrons  in  Zion  have  they  ravished, 
And  maidens  in  the  cities  of  Judah. 

12  Princes  were  hanged  up  by  their  hand ; 
The  faces  of  the  elders  were  not  honored. 

13  Young  men  carried  millstones. 

And  boys  fell  under  burdens  of  wood. 

14  The  elders  sit  no  more  at  the  gate ; 

The  young  men  have  ceased  from  their  music 

15  The  joy  of  our  heart  is  at  an  end; 
Our  dancing  is  turned  into  mourning. 

16  The  crown  is  fallen  from  our  head ; 
Woe  unto  us,  that  we  have  sinned ! 

17  For  this  is  our  heart  faint. 

For  these  things  our  eyes  are  dim ; 

18  On  account  of  mount  Zion,  which  is  desolate; 
Foxes  roam  over  it. 

7* 


154  LAMENTATIONS.  [ch.  v. 

19  But  thou,  O  Jehovah,  sittest  as  king  forever ; 
Thy  throne  endureth  from  generation  to  generation. 

20  Wherefore  dost  thou  wholly  forget  us, 
And  abandon  us,  for  so  long  a  time  ? 

21  Turn   us   again   to   thee,  O  Jehovah,  that  we   may  be 

restored ! 
'  Kenew  our  days  as  of  old ! 

22  For  shouldst  thou  utterly  reject  us  ? 

Shouldst  thou  be  so  exceedingly  wroth  against  us  ? 


EZEKIEL 


The  call  of  Ezeliiel  to  the  prophetic  office.  —  Ch.  I.  —  III.  21. 

1  Now  it  came  to  pass  in  the  thirtieth  year,  in  the  fourth 
month,  in  the  fifth  day  of  the  month,  as  I  was  among  the 
captiyes    by  the   river    Chebar,    that    the    heavens    were 

2  opened,  and  I  saw  visions  of  God.  On  the  fifth  day  of 
the  month,  in  the  fifth  year  of  the  captivity  of  King  Jehoi- 

3  achin,  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  Ezeliiel,  the  son  of 
Buzi,  the  priest,  in  the  land  of  the  Chaldoeans,  by  the 
river  Chebar ;  and  the  hand  of  Jehovah  was  there  upon 

4  him.  And  I  looked,  and  behold,  a  stormy  wind  came  from 
the  north,  a  great  cloud,  and  a  mass  of  fire;  and  a  bright- 
ness was  round  about  it,  and  in  the  midst  of  it  the  appear- 

5  anee  of  bright  brass,  in  the  midst  of  the  fire.  And  in  the 
midst  of  it  were  the  forms  of  four  living  creatures.  And 
this  was  their  appearance.     They  had  the  form  of  a  man. 

6  And  every  one  had  four  faces,  and  every  one  had  four 

7  wings.  And  their  feet  were  upright;  and  the  sole  of 
their  feet  was  as  the  sole  of  a  calf's  foot;  and  they  spar- 

8  kled  like  polished  brass.  And  they  had  the  hands  of  a 
man  under  their  wings  on  their  four  sides,  and  all  four  had 

9  faces  and  wings.  Their  wings  were  joined  one  to  another  ; 
they  turned  not  about  when  they  went ;  they  went  every 

10  one  straight  forward.  As  for  the  form  of  their  faces,  all 
four  had  the  face  of  a  man,  and  the  face  of  a  lion  on  the 
right  side,  and  all  four  had  the  face  of  an  ox  on  the  left 

11  side,  and  all  four  had  also  the  flice  of  an  eagle.  Thus 
were  their  faces.  And  their  wings  were  expanded  up- 
ward;  two  wincTS  of  every  one  were  joined,  and  two  cov- 

12  ered   their   bodies.     And    they  went   every  one    straight 


156  EZEKIEL.  [oh.  1. 

forward ;  whither  the   spirit  was    to   go,  they  went,  and 

13  they  turned  not  about  when  they  went.  And  the  appear- 
ance of  the  living  creatures  was  as  coals  of  fire,  burning 
liive  torches ;  and  the  fire  moved  about  among  the  living 
creatures,  and  shone  forth  brightly;   and  out  of  the  fire 

14  came  forth  lightning.  And  the  living  creatures  ran  back- 
ward and  forward  like  a  flash  of  lit^htninoj. 

15  Now  as  I  beheld  the  living  creatures,  behold,  there 
stood  a  wheel  upon  the  earth  by  each  of  the  living  crea- 

16  tures,  with  its  four  sides.  The  appearance  of  tlie  wheels, 
and  their  work,  was  like  that  of  a  chrysolite,  and  all  four 
had  one  form,  and  their  appearance  and  their  work  was 

17  as  if  a  wheel  had  been  within  a  wheel.  When  they  went, 
they   went    upon    their  four   side.^,   and  they  turned  not 

18  about  when  they  went.  As  for  their  felloes,  they  were 
high  and  terrible  ;  and  their  felloes  were  full  of  eyes  round 

19  about  upon  all  four  of  them.  And  when  the  living  crea- 
tures went,  the  wheels  went  beside  them ;  and  when  the 
living  creatures  were  lifted  up  from  the  earth,  the  wheels 

20  were  lifted  up.  AVIiithersoever  the  spirit  was  to  go,  they 
went,  whitliersoever  the  spirit  was  to  go ;  and  the  wheels 
were  lifted  up  beside  them ;   for  the  spiiit  of  the  living 

21  creatures  was  in  the  wheels.  When  those  went,  these 
went ;  and  when  those  stowl,  these  stood ;  and  when 
those  were  lifted  up  from  the  earth,  the  wheels  were  lifted 
up  beside  them ;  for  the  spirit  of  the  living  creatures  was 

22  in  the  wheels.  And  over  the  heads  of  the  living  crea- 
tures was  the   a})pearance   of  a   firmament,  like   crystal, 

23  terrible,  spread  out  over  their  heads  above.  And  under 
the  firmament  were  their  wings  upright,  the  one  toward 
the  other ;  and  every  one  had  two,  which  covered  his  body. 

24  And  I  heard  the  sound  of  their  wings,  as  the  sound  of 
great  waters,  as  the  voice  of  the  Almighty,  when  they 
went,  —  a  sound  like  the  noise  of  a  host.    And  when  they 

25  stood  still,  they  let  down  their  wings.  And  there  was  a 
voice  from  the  firmament,  that  was  over  their  heads ;  and 
they  stood  still,  and  let  down  their  vving>!. 

26  And  above  the  firmament  over  their  heads  was  an  ap- 
pearance like  a  sapphire-stone,  the  form  of  a  throne  ;  and 
upon  the  form  of  the  throne  there  was  a  form  like  that  of 


CH.  II.]  EZEKIEL.  157 

27  a  man  above.  And  I  saw  what  had  the  appearance  of 
bright  brass,  what  had  the  appearance  of  fire  round  abou* 
within  it,  from  the  appearance  of  his  loins  and  upward. 
And  from  the  appearance  of  his  loins  downward  I  saw 
what  had  the  appearance  of  fire,  and  its  brightness  was 

28  round  about  him.  As  the  appearance  of  the  bow  that  is 
in  the  cloud  in  the  day  of  rain,  so  was  the  appearance  of 
the  brightness  round  about.  This  was  the  appearance 
of  the  glory  of  Jehovah.  And  when  I  saw  it  I  fell  upon 
my  face,  and  I  heard  the  voice  of  one  who  spoke. 

1  And  he  said  to  me,  Son  of  man,  stand  upon  thy  feet, 

2  and  I  will  speak  with  thee.  And  the  spirit  entered  into 
me  when  he  spoke  to  me,  and  set  me  upon  my  feet ;  and 

3  I  heard  him  that  spake  with  me.  And  he  said  to  me, 
Son  of  man,  I  send  thee  to  the  sons  of  Israel,  to  a  rebel- 
lious nation,  that  hath  rebelled  against  me ;  they  and 
their  fathers  have  rebelled  against  me  to  this  very  day. 

4  Brazen-faced  and  stiff-hearted  are  the  sons  to  whom  I 
send  thee.     And  tliou  shalt  say  to  them,  Thus  saith  the 

5  Lord  Jehovah.  And  whether  they  will  hear,  or  whether 
they  will  forbear,  for  they  are  a  rebellious  house,  yet  shall 

6  they  know  that  a  prophet  is  in  the  midst  of  them.  And 
thou,  son  of  man,  be  not  afraid  of  them,  and  of  their 
words  be  not  afraid,  though  they  be  briers  and  thorns 
toward  thee,  and  though  thou  dwell  among  scorpions  ;  be 
not  afraid  of  their  words,  nor  be  dismayed  at  their  looks, 

7  for  they  are  a  rebellious  house.  Speak  thou  my  words 
to  them,  whether  they  will    hear,  or  whether   they  will 

8  forbear,  for  they  are  most  rebellious.  But  thou,  son  of 
man,  hear  what  I  say  to  thee !  Be  not  thou  rebellious, 
like  that  rebellious  house.  Open  thy  mouth,  and  eat 
that  which  I  give  thee. 

9  And  when  I  looked,  behold,  a  hand  was  put  forth  to 
10  me ;  and  lo,  a  book-roll  was  therein.     And  he  spread  it 

before  me,  and  it  was  written  within  and  without.     And 
therein  was  written  lamentation  and  mournins:  and  woe. 

1  And  he  said  to  me.  Son  of  man,  eat  that  which  thou 
findest ;  eat  this  roll,  and  go,  speak  to  the  house  of  Israel! 

2  So  I  opened  my  mouth,  and  he  gave  me  the  roll  to  eat. 


158  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  III. 

3  And  he  said  to  me,  Son  of  man,  let  thy  stomach  eat,  and 
fill  thy  body  with  this  roll  which  I  give  thee !  Then  I 
ate  it,  and  it  was  in  my  mouth  as  honey  for  sweetness. 

4  And  he  said  to  me:    Son  of  man,  go,  get  thee  to  the 

5  house  of  Israel,  and  speak  my  words  to  them !  For  not 
to  a  people  of  a  dark  speech  and  a  hard  language  art  thou 

6  sent,  but  to  the  house  of  Israel ;  not  to  many  nations  of  a 
dark  speech  and  a  hard  language,  whose  words  thou  canst 
not   understand.     Truly,  had  I  sent  thee  to  them,  they 

7  would  have  hearkened  to  thee.  But  the  house  of  Israel 
will  not  hearken  to  thee,  for  they  will  not  hearken  to  me. 
For  the  whole  house  of  Israel  is  brazen-faced  and  stiff- 

8  hearted.  Behold,  I  have  made  thy  face  strong  against 
their  faces,  and  thy  forehead    strong  against  their  fore- 

9  heads.  As  an  adamant,  harder  than  flint,  have  I  made 
thy  forehead;  fear  them  not,  nor  be  dismayed  at  their 
looks ;  for  they  are  a  rebellious  house. 

10  Moreover,  he  said  to  me:  Son  of  man,  all  my  words, 
which  I  shall  speak  to  thee,  receive  in  thy  heart,  and  hear 

11  with  thine  ears!  And  go,  get  thee  to  them  of  tlie  captiv- 
ity, to  the  children  of  thy  people,  and  speak  to  them,  and 
say  to  them.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah ;  whether  they 
will  hear,  or  whether  they  will  forbear. 

12  Then  tlie  spirit  lifted  me  up,  and  I  heard  behind  me 
tlie  sound,  as  of  a  great  rushing,  saying,  "  Praised  be  the 

13  majesty  of  Jehovah  from  his  place ! "  I  heard  also  the 
noise  of  the  wings  of  the  living  creatures,  that  touched 
one  another,  and   the  noise  of  the  wheels    beside  them, 

14  even  a  noise  of  a  great  rushing.  So  the  spirit  lifted  me 
up,  and  took  me  away,  and  I  went  in  bitterness,  in  the 
heat  of  my  spirit;  but  the  hand  of  Jehovah  was  strong 
upon  me. 

15  Then  I  came  to  them  of  the  captivity  at  Tel-abib,  that 
dwelt  by  the  river  Chebar ;  and  I  dwelt  where  they  dwelt ; 

16  I  even  dwelt  astonished  among  them  seven  days.  And 
at  the  end  of  seven  days,  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to 

17  me,  and  said :  Son  of  man,  I  have  set  thee  as  a  watchman 
to  the  house  of  Israel ;  therefore  hear  the  word  from  my 


CH.  III.]  EZEKIEL.  159 

18  mouth,  and  warn  them  from  me !  When  I  say  to  the 
wicked,  Thou  shalt  surely  die !  and  thou  givest  him  not 
warning,  nor  speakest  to  warn  the  wicked  from  his  wicked 
way,  so  that  he  may  live,  that  wicked  man  shall  die  for 
his  iniquity;    but  his  blood  will  I  require  at  thy  hand. 

19  Yet  if  thou  warn  the  wicked,  and  he  turn  not  from  his 
wickedness,  and  from  his  wicked  way,  he  shall  die  for  his 

20  iniquity,  but  thou  hast  delivered  thy  soul.  Again,  when 
a  righteous  man  turneth  from  his  righteousness,  and  com- 
mitteth  iniquity,  and  I  lay  a  stumbling-block  before  him, 
and  he  shall  die  because  thou  hast  not  given  him  warn- 
ing, he  will  die  for  his  sin ;  and  his  righteousness  which 
he  hath  done  will  not  be  remembered ;  but  his  blood  will 

21  I  require  at  thy  hand.  Yet  if  thou  warn  the  righteous 
man,  that  he  sin  not,  and  the  righteous  man  doth  not  sin, 
he  shall  surely  live,  because  he  hath  received  warning ; 
and  thou  hast  delivered  thy  soul. 


n. 


Prophecies  against  Jerusalem.  —  Ch.  III.  22  —  V.  17. 

22  And  the  hand  of  Jehovah  was  there  upon  me,  and  he 
said  to  me.  Arise,  go  forth  into  the  plain,  and  there  will  I 

23  speak  with  thee.  Then  I  arose,  and  went  forth  into  the 
plain,  and  lo,  the  glory  of  Jehovah  stood  there,  as  the 
glory  which  I  saw  by  the  river  Chebar ;  and  I  fell  upon 

24  my  face.  Then  the  spirit  entered  into  me,  and  set  me 
upon  my  feet.     And  he  spake  with  me,  and  said  to  me : 

25  Go,  shut  thyself  within  thy  house.  And  behold,  0  son 
of  man,  bands  shall  be  put  upon  thee,  and  thou  shalt  be 
bound  therewith  ;  and  thou  shalt  not  go  out  among  them. 

26  And  I  will  make  thy  tongue  cleave  to  the  roof  of  thy 
mouth,  that  thou  shalt  be  dumb,  and  shalt  not  be  to  them 

27  a  reprover ;  for  they  are  a  rebellious  house.  But  when  I 
speak  with  thee,  I  will  open  thy  mouth,  and  thou  shalt 
say  to  them,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  He  that  will 
hear,  let  him  hear,  and  he  that  will  forbear,  let  him  for- 
bear ;  for  they  are  a  rebellious  house. 


160  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  ir. 

1  And  thou,  son  of  man,  take  thee  a  tile,  and  lay  it  before 

2  thee,  and  portray  upon  it  a  city,  even  Jerusalem.  And 
lay  siege  against  it,  and  build  a  tower  against  it,  and  cast 
up  a  mound  against  it ;  set  a  camp  also  against  it,  and 

3  place  battering-rams  against  it  round  about.  Moreover, 
take  thou  an  iron  pan,  and  set  it  for  a  wall  of  iron 
between  thee  and  the  city ;  and  set  thy  face  against  it, 
that  it  may  be  besieged ;  and  lay  siege  against  it.  This 
shall  be  a  sign  to  the  house  of  Israel. 

4  Lie  thou  also  upon  thy  left  side,  and  lay  the  iniquity 
of  the  house  of  Israel  upon  it.  According  to  the  number 
of  days  that  thou  shalt  lie  upon  it,  thou  shalt  bear  their 

5  iniquity.  But  for  the  years  of  their  iniquity  I  appoint 
thee  days,  three  hundred  and  ninety  days  ;  so  long  shalt 

6  thou  bear  the  iniquity  of  the  house  of  Israel.  And  when 
thou  hast  brought  them  to  an  end,  then  lie  upon  thy  right 
side,  and  bear  the  iniquity  of  the  house  of  Judah  forty 

7  days.  I  have  appointed  thee  a  day  for  a  year.  And  set 
thy  face  against  besieged  Jerusalem,  and  uncover  thine 

8  arm,  and  prophesy  against  it !  And  behold,  I  will  lay 
bands  upon  tliee,  and  thou  shalt  not  turn  thee  from  one 
side  to  another  till  thou  hast  ended  the  days  of  thy  siege. 

9  Take  thou  also  wheat,  and  barley,  and  beans,  and  lentiles, 
and  millet,  and  spelt,  and  put  them  into  one  vessel,  and 
make  thereof  thy  bread  for  the  number  of  days  that  thou 
shalt  lie  upon  thy  side  ;  three  hundred  and  ninety  dayy 

10  shalt  thou  eat  thereof.  And  thy  food  which  thou  eatest 
shall  be  by  weight,  twenty  shekels  a  day  ;  from  time  to 

11  time  shalt  thou  eat  it.  Thou  shalt  also  drink  water  by 
measure,  the  sixth  part  of  a  hin  ;  from  time  to  time  shalt 

12  thou  drink.  Thou  shalt  also  eat  barley-cakes  ;  and  with 
dung  that  cometh  out  of  man  shalt  thou  bake  them  in 

13  their  sight.  And  Jehovah  said.  Even  thus  shall  the  sons 
of  Israel  eat  their  polluted  food  among  the  nations,  whither 
I  will  drive  them. 

14  Then  said  I :  Ah  !  Lord  Jehovah,  behold,  I  have  never 
been  polluted  ;  for  from  my  youth  until  now  have  I  not 
eaten  that  which  died  of  itself,  or  was  torn  in  pieces ; 

15  neither  hath  unclean  food  come  into  my  mouth.  Then 
he  said  to  me:    Behold,  I  give  thee  cow's  dung  for  man's 


CH.  V.J 


EZEKIEL.  161 


16  dung ;  and  with  that  shait  thou  prepare  thy  food.  And 
he  said  to  me :  Son  of  man,  behold,  I  will  break  the  staff 
of  bread  in  Jerusalem,  and  they  shall  eat  bread  by  weight 
and  with  care,  and  they  shall  drink  water  by  measure  and 

17  in  amazement ;  so  that  they  shall  be  in  want  of  bread  and 
water,  and  be  astonished  one  at  another,  and  consume 
away  for  their  iniquity. 

1  And  thou,  son  of  man,  take  thee  a  sharp  instrument, 
even  a  barber's  razor,  and  cause  it  to  pass  upon  thy  head 
and  thy  beard ;  and  take  thee  weighing-balances,  and  di- 

2  vide  the  hair.  A  third  part  shalt  thou  burn  with  fire  in 
the  midst  of  the  city,  when  the  days  of  the  siege  are  ful- 
filled ;  and  thou  shalt  take  a  third  part  and  smite  it  round 
about  with  the  sword ;  and  a  third  part  shalt  thou  scatter 
in   the  wind,  and  I  will  draw  out  a  sword  after  them. 

3  Thou  shalt  also  take  thereof  a  small  number,  and  bind 

4  them  in  thy  skirts.  And  of  these  again  take  some  and 
cast  them  into  the  fire,  and  burn  them  in  the  fire.  From 
them  shall  a  fire  come  forth  upon  the  whole  house  of 
Israel. 

5  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  This  is  Jerusalem  ;  in 
the  midst  of  the  nations  have  I  set  her,  and  countries  are 

6  round  about  her.  But  she  hath  wickedly  resisted  my  or- 
dinances more  than  the  nations,  and  my  statutes  more 
than  the  countries,  that  are  round  about  her.  For  they 
have  refused  my  ordinances,  and  have  not  walked  in  my 

7  statutes.  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  :  Be- 
cause ye  have  been  rebellious  more  than  the  nations  that 
are  round  about  you,  and  have  not  walked  in  my  statutes, 
nor  kept  my  ordinances,  but  have  done  according  to  the 
ordinances  of  the   nations  which  are  round   about  you, 

8  therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  Behold  I,  even  I, 
am  against  thee,  and  will  execute  judgments  against  thee 

9  in  the  sight  of  the  nations.  I  will  do  to  thee  that  which 
I  have  not  yet  done,  and  the  like  of  which  I  shall  not  do 

10  again,  because  of  all  thine  iniquities.  Therefore  the  fa- 
thers shall  eat  the  sons  in  the  midst  of  thee,  and  the  sons 
shall  eat  their  fathers  ;  and  I  will  execute  judgments  in 
thee,  and  I  will  scatter  the  whole  remnant  of  thee  to  all 

11  the  winds.     Thi'refore,  as  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah, 


162  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  VI. 

because  thou  hast  polluted  my  sanctuary  with  all  thy  de- 
testable things,  and  with  all  thine  abominations,  therefore 
will  I  also  withdraw  mine  eye  from  thee ;  neither  will  I 

12  spare,  neither  will  I  have  any  pity.  A  third  part  of  thee 
shall  die  by  the  pestilence,  or  be  consumed  with  hunger 
in  the  midst  of  thee ;  and  a  third  part  shall  die  by  the 
sword  round  about  thee ;  and  a  third  part  will  I  scatter  to 
all  tlie  winds,  and  I  will  draw  out  a  sword  after  them. 

13  Thus  shall  mine  anger  be  accomplished,  and  I  will  satiate 
my  fury  upon  them,  and  receive  satisfaction  ;  and  they 
shall  know  that  I,  Jehovah,  have  spoken  it  in  my  zeal, 
when  I  shall    have  accomplished   my   fury  upon   them. 

14  Moreover,  I  will  make  thee  a  waste,  and  a  reproach 
among   the  nations    that   are  round   about  thee,  in   the 

15  sight  of  all  that  pass  by.  And  thou  shalt  be  a  reproach, 
and  a  reviling,  and  a  warning,  and  an  astonishment  to  the 
nations  that  are  round  about  thee,  when  I  shall  execute 
judgments  upon  thee  in  anger,  and  in  fury,  and  in  furious 

16  rebukes  ;  —  I,  Jehovah,  have  spoken  it ;  —  when  I  shall 
send  upon  you  the  evil  arrows  of  famine  which  bring  de- 
struction, which  I  send  to  destroy  you,  and  increase  the 

17  famine  upon  you,  and  break  your  staff  of  broad.  And  I 
will  send  upon  you  famine,  and  evil  beasts,  which  shall 
make  thee  childless  ;  and  pestilence  and  blood  shall  pass 
through  thee  ;  and  the  sword  will  I  bring  upon  thee.  I, 
Jehovah,  have  spoken  it. 


m. 

Various  woes  denounced  against  Israel.  —  Ch.  VI.,  VII. 

1,  2     And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying :  Son  of 
man,  set  thy  face  against  the  mountains  of  Israel,  and 

3  prophesy  against  them !  And  say,  Ye  mountains  of  Is- 
rael, hear  the  word  of  the  Lord  Jehovah!  Thus  saith 
the  Lord  Jehovah  to  the  mountains  and  to  the  hills,  to 
the  plains  and  to  the  valleys :  Behold,  I,  even  I,  will 
bring  the  sword  upon  you,  and  I  will  destroy  your  high 

4  places ;  and  your  altars  shall  be  desolate,  and  your  sun- 
images  shall  be  broken ;  and  I  will  cast  down  your  slain 


en.  VII.]  EZEKIEL.  163 

5  before  your  idols.  And  I  will  lay  the  carcasses  of  the 
sons  of  Israel  before  their  idols ;  and  I  will  scatter  your 

6  bones  round  about  your  altars.  In  all  places  where  ye 
dwell  shall  the  cities  be  laid  waste,  and  the  high  places  be 
desolate  ;  that  your  altars  may  be  laid  waste  and  made 

.  desolate,  and  your  idols  may  be  broken,  and  cease,  and 
your  sun-images  may  be  cut  down,  and  your  works  may 

7  be  destroyed.  And  the  slain  shall  fall  in  the  midst  of 
you,  that  ye  may  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 

8  Yet  will  I  leave  a  remnant,  that  ye  may  have  some 
that  shall   have  escaped  the  sword  among   the   nations, 

9  when  ye  shall  be  scattered  through  the  countries.  And 
they  of  you  that  escape  shall  remember  me  among  the 
nations  whither  they  shall  be  carried  captives,  when  I 
have  broken  their  whorish  heart  which  departed  from 
me,  and  their  eyes  which  went  lusting  after  their  idols ; 
and  they  shall  loathe  themselves  for  the  evils  which  they 

10  have  committed  in  all  their  abominations.  Then  shall 
they  know  that  I  am  Jehovah,  and  that  I  have  not  said  in 
vain,  that  I  would  do  all  this  evil  to  them. 

11  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah:  Smite  upon  thy  hand, 
and  stamp  with  thy  foot,  and  say,  Alas  for  all  the  evil 
abominations  of  the  house  of  Israel  !  for  by  the  sword,  by 

12  famine,  and  by  pestilence  shall  they  fall.  He  that  is  far 
off  shall  die  by  pestilence,  and  he  that  is  near  shall  fall 
by  the  sword,  and  he  that  remaineth  and  is  preserved 
shall  die  by  famine.     Thus  will  I  accomplish    my   fury 

13  upon  them.  Then  shall  ye  know  that  I  am  Jehovah, 
when  their  slain  men  shall  be  among  their  idols  round 
about  their  altars,  upon  every  high  hill,  upon  all  the  tops 
of  the  mountains,  and  under  every  green  tree,  and  under 
every  thick  oak,  in  every  place  where  they  offered  sweet 

14  savor  to  all  their  idols.  So  will  I  stretch  out  my  hand 
against  them,  and  make  the  land  desolate;  yea,  more 
desolate  than  the  wilderness  toward  Diblath,  in  all  their 
habitations ;  and  they  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 

1  Moreover,  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying: 

2  Thou  son  of  man,  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  concern- 
ing the  land  of  Israel :  — 


164  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  vii. 

3  The  end  cometh,  the  end  cometh, 
Upon  the  four  corners  of  the  land ! 
Now  cometh  the  end  upon  thee ! 
For  I  will  send  my  anger  upon  thee, 

And  will  judge  thee  according  to  thy  ways, 

And  will  recompense  upon  thee  all  thine  abominations. 

4  And  mine  eye  shall  not  spare  thee,  neither  will  I  have 

pity; 

But  I  will  recompense  thy  ways  upon  thee. 
And  thine  abominations  shall  be  in  the  midst  of  thee ; 
And  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah.  ' 

► 

5  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  ' 
An  evil,  an  unheard-of  evil,  behold,  it  cometh ! 

6  The  end  cometh,  the  end  cometh ! 

It  awaketh  against  thee,  behold,  it  cometh ! 

7  Thy  fate  cometh  upon  thee,  thou  that  dwellest  in  the  land! 
The  time  is  come, 

The  day  of  tumult  is  near, 

When  no  sound  of  joy  sliall  be  upon  the  mountains. 

8  Now  will  I  shortly  pour  out  my  fury  upon  thee, 
And  accomplish  mine  anger  against  thee ; 

And  I  will  judge  thee  according  to  thy  ways. 
And  recompense  upon  thee  all  thine  abominations. 

9  And  mine  eye  shall  not  spare,  neither  will  I  have  pity; 
I  will  recompense  thee  according  to  thy  ways. 

And  thine  abominations  shall  come  upon  thee ; 
And  ye  shall  know  that  I,  Jehovah,  smite  you. 

10  Behold,  the  day,  behold,  it  cometh ! 
The  destiny  draweth  near ; 

The  rod  hath  blossomed,  pride  hath  flourished. 

11  Violence  is  risen  up  into  a  rod  of  wickedness  ; 

None  of  them  shall  remain,  none  of  their  multitude,  none 

of  their  crowd ; 
Nor  shall  there  be  wailing  for  them. 

12  The  time  cometh,  the  day  draweth  near  I 
Let  not  the  buyer  rejoice. 

Nor  the  seller  mourn  ; 

For  wrath  is  against  their  whole  multitude. 

13  For  the  seller  shall  not  return  to  that  which  is  sold, 
Though  he  be  yet  alive  j 


CH.  VII.]  EZEKIEL.  165 

For  the  vision  against  their  whole  multitude   shall  not 

return  void, 
And  none  that  liveth  in  his  iniquity  shall  strengthen  himself. 

14  *'  Blow  ye  the  trumpet,  and  let  all  be  ready ! " 
Yet  none  goeth  to  the  battle ; 

For  mine  anger  is  against  their  whole  multitude. 

15  The   sword   is   without,   and    pestilence    and    famine 

within  ; 
He  that  is  in  the  field  shall  die  by  the  sword ; 
And  he  tliat  is  in  the  city,  famine  and  pestilence  shall 

devour  him. 

16  And  those  of  them  that  escape  shall  be  upon  the  moun- 

tains like  doves  of  the  valleys, 
All  of  them  mourning,  every  one  for  his  iniquity. 

17  All  hands  shall  be  feeble. 

And  all  knees  shall  flow  with  water. 

18  They  shall  also  gird  themselves  with  sackcloth, 
And  horror  shall  cover  them. 

And  upon  all  their  faces  shall  be  shame, 
And  upon  all  their  heads  baldness. 

19  Their  silver  shall  they  cast  into  the  streets. 
And  their  gold  shall  be  as  an  unclean  thing. 

Their  silver  and  their  gold  shall  not  be  able  to  deliver  them 

In  the  day  of  the  wrath  of  Jehovah ; 

Their  hunger  shall  not  be  satisfied, 

Nor  their  body  filled  with  it ; 

For  it  was  the  stumbling-block  of  their  iniquity. 

20  For  the  beauty  of  their  ornaments  they  turned  into  pride. 
And  the  images  of  their  abominations  and  of  their  detest- 
able things  they  made  with  it ; 

Therefore  will  I  make  it  to  them  as  an  unclean  thing. 

21  And  I  will  give  it  into  the  hands  of  strangers  for  a  prej, 
And  to  the  wicked  of  the  earth  for  a  spoil. 

And  they  shall  pollute  it. 

22  And  I  will  turn  my  face  from  them. 

So  that  my  secret  place  shall  be  polluted ; 
Robbers  shall  enter  into  it,  and  pollute  it. 

23  Make  a  chain  ! 

For  the  land  is  full  of  blood-guiltiness, 
And  the  city  is  full  of  violence. 


166  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  VIII. 

24  Therefore  will  I  bring  the  most  cruel  among  the  nations, 
And  they  shall  possess  your  houses ; 

I  will  also  make  the  pride  of  the  strong  to  cease, 
And  their  holy  places  shall  be  defiled. 

25  Destruction  cometh  ; 

And  they  shall  seek  peace,  and  not  find  it. 

26  Calamity  shall  come  upon  calamity, 
And  rumor  shall  be  upon  rumor; 

And  they  shall  seek  a  vision  from  the  prophet  in  vain ; 
Instruction  shall  perish  from  the  priests, 
And  counsel  from  the  elders. 

27  The  king  shall  mourn, 

And  the  prince  shall  be  clothed  with  amazement ; 

And  the  hands  of  the  people  of  the  land  shall  be  troubled. 

I  will  do  to  them  according  to  their  way,  and  according  to 

their  deserts  will  I  judge  them, 
And  they  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 


rv. 

Visions  relating  to  the  guilt  and  the  punishment  of  Jerusalem.  — 
Ch.  VIII.— XI. 

1  Now  it  came  to  pass  in  the  sixth  year,  in  the  sixth 
month,  on  the  fifth  day  of  the  month,  as  I  sat  in  my 
house,  and  the  elders  of  Judah  sat  before  me,  that  the 

2  hand  of  the  Lord  Jehovah  fell  there  upon  me.  And  I 
looked,  and  lo,  a  form  having  the  appearance  of  fire ; 
from  the  appearance  of  his  loins  downward,  of  fire ;  and 
from  his  loins  upward,  of  a  bright  light,  like  the  splendor 

3  of  shining  brass.  And  he  put  forth  the  form  of  a  hand, 
and  took  me  by  a  lock  of  my  head.  And  the  spirit  lifted 
me  up  between  the  earth  and  the  heaven,  and  brought 
me,  in  the  visions  of  God,  to  Jerusalem,  to  the  door  of 
the  inner  gate,  that  looketh  toward  the  north,  where  stood 

4  the  idol  of  jealousy,  which  provoketh  to  jealousy.  And 
behold,  the  glory  of  the  God  of  Israel  was  there,  accord- 
*ng  to  the  vision  which  I  saw  in  the  plain. 

6       Then  said  he  to  me,  Son  of  man,  lift  up  thine  eyes 


CH.  VIII.]  EZEKIEL.  167 

toward  the  north !     And  I  lifted  up  my  eyes  toward  the 
north,  and  behold,  northward  from  the  gate  of  the  altar 

6  was  this  idol  of  jealousy,  at  the  entrance.  And  he  said 
to  me :  Son  of  man,  seest  thou  what  they  do  ?  Great 
are  the  abominations  which  the  house  of  Israel  commit 
here,  that  I  should  go  far  off  from  my  sanctuary.  But 
thou  shalt  yet  again  see  great  abominations. 

7  And   he  brought  me  to  the  door  of  the  court,  and  I 

8  looked,  and  behold,  a  hole  in  the  wall.  And  he  said  to 
me.  Sou  of  man,  break  now  through  the  wall.  And 
when   I  had   broken   through  the  wall,  behold,  a  door. 

9  And  he  said  to  me,  Go  in,  and  behold  the  wicked  abomi- 

10  nations  which  they  practise  here.  So  I  went  in  and 
saw,  and  behold,  every  form  of  creeping  things,  and  of 
abominable  beasts,  and  all  the  idols  of  the  house  of  Israel, 

11  portrayed  upon  the  wall  round  about.  And  there  stood 
before  them  seventy  men  of  the  elders  of  the  house  of 
Israel,  Jaazaniah,  the  son  of  Shaphan,  standing  in  the 
midst  of  them,  with  every  man  his  censer  in  his  hand ; 

12  and  a  thick  cloud  of  incense  went  up.  Then  said  he  to 
me  :  Son  of  man,  seest  thou  what  the  elders  of  the  house 
of  Israel  do  in  the  dark,  each  one  in  his  image-chamber  ? 
For  they  say,  "  Jehovah  seeth  us  not ;  Jehovah  hath  for- 

13  saken  the  land."  And  he  said  to  me,  Thou  shalt  yet 
again  see  the  great  abominations  which  they  practise. 

14  Then  he  brought  me  to  the  entrance  of  the  gate  of  the 
house   of  Jehovah,    which   was    toward    the    north,    and 

15  behold,  there  sat  women,  weeping  for  Thammuz.  Arid 
he  said  to  me,  Seest  thou  this,  O  son  of  man?  Thou 
shalt  yet  again  see  greater  abominations  than  these. 

16  And  he  brought  me  into  the  inner  court  of  the  house 
of  Jehovah,  and  behold,-at  the  entrance  of  the  temple  of 
Jehovah,  between  the  porch  and  the  altar,  were  about  five 
and  twenty  men,  with  their  backs  toward  the  temple  of 
Jehovah,  and  their  faces  toward  the  east ;  and  they  bowed 

17  themselves  eastward  toward  the  sun.  And  he  said  to  me : 
Seest  thou,  O  son  of  man?  Is  it  a  light  thing  to  the 
house  of  Judah,  that  they  commit  the  abominations  which 
they  commit  here,  that  they  fill  the  land  with  violence^ 


1.68  EZEKIEL.  [en.  IX. 

and  continually  provoke  me  to  anger?  And  behold,  they 
18  put  the  branch  to  their  nostrils.  Therefore  will  I  also 
deal  with  them  in  fury ;  mine  eye  shall  not  spare,  neither 
will  I  have  pity  ;  and  though  they  cry  in  mine  eai'S  with  a 
loud  voice,  yet  will  I  not  hear  them. 

1  He  cried  also,  in  my  hearing,  with  a  loud  voice, 
saying :  Bring  ye  near  the  punishments  of  the  city,  every 

2  one  his  weapon  of  destruction  in  his  hand.  And  lo,  six 
men  came  from  the  way  of  the  higher  gate,  which  looketh 
toward  the  north,  every  one  with  his  slaughter-weapon  in 
his  hand ;  and  one  man  among  them  was  clothed  with 
linen,  with  a  writer's  ink-horn  by  his  side  ;  and  they  went 

3  in,  and  stood  beside  the  brazen  altar.  And  the  glory  of 
the  God  of  Israel  went  up  from  the  cherub  upon  w^hich  it 
was  to  the  threshold  of  the  house ;  and  he  called  to  the 
man   clothed  with  linen,  who  had   the  w^riter's  ink-horn 

4  by  his  side ;  and  Jehovah  said  to  him.  Go  through  the 
midst  of  the  city,  through  the  midst  of  Jerusalem,  and  set 
a  mark  upon  the  foreheads  of  the  men  that  sigh  and  that 
wail  for  all  the  abominations  that  are  done  in  the  midst 

5  thereof.  And  to  the  others  he  said,  in  my  hearing.  Go 
ye  after  him  through  the  city,  and  smite  I  let  not  your 

6  eyes  spare,  neither  have  ye  pity !  The  old  man,  the 
youth,  the  virgin,  little  children  and  women,  slay  and 
destroy ;  but  come  not  near  any  one  upon  whom  is  the 
mark ;  and  begin  at  my  sanctuary. 

Then  began  they  at  the  elders  that  were  before  the 

7  house.  And  he  said  to  them.  Pollute  the  house,  and  fill 
the  courts  with  the  slain,  then  go  ye  forth.     And  they 

8  went  forth,  and  slew  in  the  city.  And  while  they  were 
smiting  them,  I  alone  was  left ;  and  I  fell  upon  my  face, 
and  cried,  and  said.  Ah,  Lord  Jehovah!  wilt  thou  de- 
stroy all  the  remnant  of  Israel,  while  thou  pourest  out 

9  thy  fury  upon  Jerusalem  ?  And  he  said  to  me :  The 
iniquity  of  tlie  house  of  Israel  and  Judah  is  exceedingly 
great,  and  the  land  is  full  of  blood,  and  the  city  full  of 
perverseness.     For  they  say,  "  Jehovah  hath  forsaken  the 

10  land " ;  and,  "  Jehovah  seeth  not."     Therefore  mine  eye 
shall  not  spare,  neither  will  I  have  pity.     Their  way  will 

11  I  recompense  upon  their  head.     And  lo,  the  man  clothed 


CH.  X.]  EZEKIEL.  169 

with  linen,  who  had  the  ink-horn  by  his  side,  returned 
answer,  saying,  1  have  done  as  thou  hast  commanded  me. 

1  Then  I  looked,  and  lo,  in  the  firmament  that  was 
above  the  head  of  the  cherubs  there  appeared  over  them 

2  as  it  were  a  sapphire-stone,  in  form  like  a  throne ;  and 
He  spake  to  the  man  that  was  clothed  with  linen,  and 
said,  Go  in  between  the  wheels  under  the  cherub,  and 
fill  thy  hands  with  coals  of  fire,  which  are  between  the 
cherubs,  and  scatter  them  over  the  city.     And  he  went 

3  in  before  my  eyes.  Now  the  cherubs  stood  upon  the 
right  side  of  the  house  when  the  man  went  in ;  and  the 

4  cloud  filled  the  inner  court.  And  the  glory  of  Jehovah 
was  lifted  up  from  the  cherub  to  the  threshold  of  the 
house ;  and  the  house  was  filled  with  the  cloud,  and  the 
court  was  filled  with  the  brightness  of  the  glory  of  Jeho- 

5  vah.  And  the  sound  of  the  wings  of  the  cherubs  was 
heard  even  to  the  outer  court,  as  the  voice  of  God,  the 

6  Almighty,  when  he  speaketh.  And  when  he  commanded 
the  man  clothed  with  linen,  saying.  Take  fire  from  be- 
tween the  wheels,  from  between  the  cherubs,  he  went  in 

7  and  stood  beside  the  wheels.  And  one  cherub  stretched 
forth  his  hand  from  between  the  cherubs  to  the  fire  that 
was  between  the  cherubs,  and  took  thereof,  and  put  it 
into  the  hands  of  him  that  was  clothed  with  linen,  who 

8  took  it,  and  went  out.  And  there  was  seen  in  the  cher- 
ubs the  form  of  a  man's  hand  under  their  wings. 

9  And  when  I  looked,  behold,  four  wheels  were  by  the 
cherubs,  one  wheel  by  one  cherub,  and  another  wheel  by 
another  cherub;  and  the  appearance  of  the  wheels  was 

10  like  that  of  a  chrysolite.  And  as  to  their  appearance,  all 
four  had  one  form,  as  if  a  wheel  were  in  the  midst  of  a 

11  wheeh  When  they  went,  they  went  upon  their  four 
sides ;  they  turned  not  about  when  they  went ;  but  to  the 
place  whither   the   head   looked   they  followed   it,  they 

12  turned  not  about  when  they  went.  And  their  whole  body, 
and  their  backs,  and  their  hands,  and  their  wings,  and  the 
wheels,  were  full  of  eyes  round  about,  even  the  wheels 

13  which    they  four   had.     And   as    to    these  wheels,  each 

14  one  of  them  in  my  hearing  was  called  Whirlwind.  And 
every  one  had  four  faces.     The  first  face  was  the  face  of 

VOL.  II.  8 


170  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XI. 

a  cherub,  and  the  second  face  was  the  face  of  a  man,  and 
the  third  the  face  of  a  lion,  and  the  fourth  the  face  of  an 

15  eagle.     And  the  cherubs  were  lifted  up.     They  were  the 

16  living  creatures  which  I  saw  by  the  river  Chebar.  And 
when  the  cherubs  went,  the  wheels  went  with  them ;  and 
when  the  cherubs  lifted  up  their  wings  to  mount  up  from 
the  earth,  the  wheels  turned  not  away  from  their  side. 

17  When  they  stood,  these  stood ;  and  when  they  were  lifted 
up,  these  were  lifted  up  with  them.  For  the  spirit  of  the 
living  creatures  was  in  them. 

18  Then  the  glory  of  Jehovah  departed  from  the  threshold 

19  of  the  house,  and  stood  over  the  cherubs.  And  the  cher- 
ubs lifted  up  their  wings,  and  mounted  up  from  the  earth 
in  my  sight,  as  they  went  out,  and  the  wheels  were  be- 
side them.  And  they  stood  at  the  entrance  of  the  east 
gate  of  the  house  of  Jehovah,  and  the  glory  of  the  God  of 

20  Israel  was  over  them  above.  They  were  the  living  crea- 
tures which  I  saw  under  the  God  of  Israel  by  the  river 

21  Chebar ;  and  I  knew  that  they  were  the  cherubs.  Every 
one  had  four  faces,  and  every  one  four  wings,  and  the 

22  form  of  a  man's  hand  was  under  their  wings.  And  as  for 
the  form  of  their  faces,  they  were  the  faces  which  I  saw 
by  the  river  Chebar,  their  appearances  and  themselves. 
They  went  every  one  straight  forward. 

1  Then  the  spirit  lifted  me  up,  and  brought  me  to  the 
east  gate  of  the  house  of  Jehovah,  that  looketh  toward 
the  east ;  and  behold,  at  the  entrance  of  the  gate  were 
five  and  twenty  men  ;  among  whom  I  saw  Jaazaniah,  the 
son  of  Azur,  and  Pelatiah,  the  son  of  Benaiah,  princes  of 

2  the  people.  Then  said  He  to  me :  These  are  the  men 
that  devise  mischief,  and  form  evil  designs  in  this  city ; 

3  who  say,  "  The  time  is  not  near  that  we  should  build 
houses.       This  city  is  the  caldron,  and  we  are  the  flesh." 

4  Therefore,  i)ropliesy   against  them,   prophesy,  O  son  of 

5  man  !  And  the  spirit  of  Jehovah  fell  upon  me,  and  he 
said  to  me,  Speak:  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  Thus  have  ye 
said,   O  house  of  Israel !     For  I  know  the  things  that 

6  come  into  your  mind,  every  one  of  them.  Ye  have  multi- 
plied your  slain  in  this  city,  and  ye  have  filled  the  streets 

7  thereof  with  the  slain.     Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord 


CH.  xr.]  EZEKIEL.  171 

Jehovah  :  Your  slain,  whom  ye  have  laid  in  the  midst  of 
it,  they  are  the  flesh,  and  this  city  is  the  caldron ;  but  you 

8  will  I  bring  forth  out  of  the  midst  of  it.     Ye  have  feared 
the  sword,  and  the  sword  will  I  bring  upon  you,  saith  the 

9  Lord  Jehovah.     And  I  will  bring  you  out  of  the  midst 
thereof,  and  deliver  you  into  the  hands  of  strangers,  and 

10  execute  judgments  upon  you.  Ye  shall  fall  by  the 
sword ;  on  the  borders  of  Israel  will  I  judge  you,  that  ye 

11  may  know  that  I  am  Jehovah.  This  city  shall  not  be 
your  caldron,  neither  shall  ye  be  the  flesh  in  the  midst 

12  thereof.  On  the  borders  of  Israel  will  I  judge  you,  that 
ye  may  know  that  I  am  Jehovah,  in  whose  statutes  ye 
have  not  walked,  and  whose  ordinances  ye  have  not  ob- 
served, but  have  done  according  to  the  manners  of  the 
nations,  that  are  round  about  you. 

13  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  I  prophesied,  that  Pelatiah, 
the  son  of  Benaiah,  died.  Then  I  fell  down  on  my  face, 
and  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  and  said.  Ah,  Lord  Jehovah, 
wilt  thou  make  a  full  end  of  the  remnant  of  Israel  ? 

14,  15  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying :  Son 
of  man,  thy  brethren,  even  thy  brethren,  the  men  of  thy 
near  kindred,  and  the  whole  house  of  Israel,  are  they  to 
whom  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  say,  "  Remove  ye  far 
from  Jehovah ;  to  us  is  the  land  given  in  possession ! " 

16  Therefore  say.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  Though  I 
have  cast  them  far  off  among  the  nations,  and  scattered 
them  among  the  countries,  yet  I  will  be  to  them  as  8 
sanctuary  for  a  short  time  in  the  countries  whither  thej 

17  are  come.  Therefore  say.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah ' 
I  will  gather  you  from  the  nations,  and  assemble  you  front 
the  countries  where  ye  have  been  scattered,  and  I  wil3 

18  give  you  the  land  of  Israel.  And  they  shall  come  thither, 
and  they  shall  take  away  from  thence  all  the  detestable 

19  things  thereof,  and  all  the  abominations  thereof.  And  1 
will  give  them  one  heart,  and  I  will  put  a  new  spirit 
within  them  ;  and  I  will  take  out  of  them  the  heart  of 

20  stone,  and  will  give  them  a  heart  of  flesh,  that  they  may 
walk  in  my  statutes,  and  observe  my  ordinances,  and  keep 
them  ;  and  they  shall  be  my  people,  and  I  will  be  their 

21  God.     But  as  for  them  whose  heart  walketh  according 


172  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XII. 

to  the  pleasure  of  their  detestable  thlnc;s  and  their  abomi- 
nations, I  will  recompense  their  way  upon  their  heads, 
saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 

22  Then  did  the  cherubs  lift  up  their  wings,  and  the 
wheels  were  beside  them  ;  and  tlie  glory  of  the  God  of 

23  Israel  was  over  them  above.  And  the  glory  of  Jehovah 
went  up  from  the  midst  of  the  city,  and  stood  upon  the 
mountain  which  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  city. 

24  Then  the  spirit  took  me  up,  and  brought  me  to  Chal- 
djea,  to  them  of  the  captivity,  in  vision,  by  the  spirit  of 
God.     And  the  vision  which  I  had  seen  went  up  from 

25  me.  Then  I  spake  to  them  of  the  captivity  all  the  words 
of  Jehovah  which  he  had  showed  me. 


The  flight  and  captivity  of  Zedekiah  and  the  Jews,  and  their  distress  rep- 
resented. —  Cii.  XII. 

1,  2  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying:  Son 
of  man,  thou  dwellest  in  the  midst  of  a  rebellious  house  ; 
they  have  eyes  to  see,  and  see  not ;  they  have  ears  to 
hear,  and   hear   not ;   for   they  are   a   rebellious   house. 

3  Therefore,  thou  son  of  man,  prepare  thee  stuff  for  remov- 
ing from  the  land ;  and  remove  by  day  in  their  sight,  and 
remove  from  thy  place  to  anotlier  place  before  their  eyes. 
It  may  be  they  will  consider,  though  they  be  a  rebellious 

4  house.  And  carry  forth  thy  stuff,  as  stuff  for  removing, 
by  day  in  their  sight,  and  go  forth  at  even  in  tlieir  sight, 

5  as  they  that  go  forth  into  captivity.  Before  their  eyes 
break  thou    tlirough  the  wall,  and   carry  forth   tliereby. 

6  In  their  sight  bear  it  upon  thy  shoulders,  and  carry  it 
forth  in  the  twilight.  Cover  thy  face,  so  that  thou  see  not 
the  ground  ;  for  I  have  made  thee  a  sign  to  the  house  of 
Israel. 

7  And  I  did  as  I  was  commanded.  I  carried  forth  my 
stuff,  as  stuff  for  removing  from  the  land,  by  day ;  and  in 
the  evening  I  broke  through  the  wall  with  my  hand ;  I 


CH.  XII.]  EZEKIEL.  173 

carried  it  forth  in  the  twilight ;  I  took  it  upon  my  shoul- 
der before  their  eyes. 

8  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me  in  the  morning, 

9  and  said :    Son  of  man,  hath  not  the  house  of  Israel,  the 

10  rebellious  house,  said  to  thee,  "  What  doest  thou  ?  "  Say 
to  them,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  This  burden  con- 
cerneth  the  prince  in   Jerusalem,  and  all  the  house  of 

11  Israel  that  is  therein.  Say,  I  am  your  sign.  As  I  have 
done,  so  shall  it  be  done  to  them.     They  shall  remove 

12  and  go  into  captivity.  And  the  prince  that  is  among 
them  shall  bear  upon  his  shoulder  in  the  twilight,  and 
shall  go  forth.  They  shall  break  through  the  wall  to 
carry  forth  thereby  ;  he  shall  cover  his  face,  that  he  see 

13  not  the  ground  with  his  eyes.  I  will  also  spread  my  net 
upon  him,  and  he  shall  be  taken  in  my  snare,  and  I  will 
bring  him  to  Babylon,  into  the  land  of  the  Chaldoeans  ; 

14  yet  he  shall  not  see  it,  though  he  shall  die  there.  And 
all  that  are  round  about  him  to  help  him,  and  all  his  bands, 
will  I  scatter  to  every  wind  ;  and  I  will  draw  out  the 

15  sword  after  them.  And  they  shall  know  that  I  am  Jeho- 
vah, when  I  shall  disperse  them  among  the  nations,  and 

16  scatter  them  in  the  countries.  But  I  will  leave  a  few 
men  of  them  from  the  sword,  from  the  famine,  and  from 
the  pestilence  ;  that  they  may  declare  all  their  abomina- 
tions among  the  heathen,  whither  they  come  ;  and  they 
shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 

17,  18  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying :  Son 
of  man,  eat  thy  bread  with  quaking,  and  drink  thy  water 

19  with  trembling  and  with  carefulness ;  and  say  to  the  peo- 
ple of  the  land:  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  concerning 
the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  in  the  land  of  Israel ;  their 
bread  shall  they  eat  with  carefulness,  and  their  water 
shall  they  drink  with  astonishment ;  that  their  land  may 
be  desolate  from  all  that  is  therein,  because  of  the  violence 

20  -of  them  that  dwell  in  it.  And  the  inhabited  cities  shall 
be  laid  waste,  and  the  land  shall  be  desolate,  that  ye  may 
know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 

21,  22  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying :  Son 
of  man,  what  meaneth  that  proverb  which  ye  have  in  the 


174  EZEKIEL.  [cu.  XIII. 

land  of  Israel,  saying,  "  The  days  are  delayed,  and  every 

23  vision  failetli "  ?  Therefore  say  to  them,  Thus  saith  the 
Lord  Jehovah  :  I  will  make  this  proverb  to  cease,  and 
they  shall  no  more  use  it  as  a  proverb  in  Israel.  But  say 
to  them,  The  days  are  at  hand,  and  what  is  declared  ia 

24  every  vision.  For  there  shall  be  no  longer  any  vain  vis- 
ion or  deceptive  divination  within  the   house  of  Israel. 

25  For  I  am  Jehovah ;  I  speak,  and  the  word  which  I  speak 
shall  come  to  pass  ;  it  shall  no  more  be  delayed.  In  jour 
own  days,  ye  rebellious  house,  will  I  speak  the  word  and 
perform  it,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 

26,  27  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying:  Son  of 
man,  behold,  they  of  the  house  of  Israel  say,  "  The  vision 
which  he  seeth  is  for  many  days  to  come,  and  he  proph- 

28  esieth  of  times  tliat  are  far  off."  Therefore  say  to  them, 
Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah:  There  shall  none  of  my 
words  be  deferred  any  more ;  what  I  speak  shall  be  done, 
saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 


VI. 

Against  false  prophets.  —  Ch.  XIII. 

1,  2  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying  :  Son  of 
man,  prophesy  against  the  prophets  of  Israel  that  proph- 
esy, and  say   to  tliem  that  prophesy  out  of  their  own 

3  hearts,  Hear  ye  the  word  of  Jehovali !  Thus  saith  the 
Lord  Jehovah :  Woe  to  the  foolish  prophets,  that  follow 

4  their  own  spirit,  and  have  seen  nothing !     Thy  prophets, 

5  O  Israel,  are  like  the  foxes  in  the  deserts.  Ye  have  not 
gone  up  into  the  breaches,  nor  built  a  wall  around  the 
house  of  Israel,  to  stand  in  battle  in  the  day  of  Jehovah. 

6  They  see  falsehood,  and  lying  divination.  They  say, 
"Jehovah  hath  spoken,"  when  Jehovah  hath  not  sent 
them  ;  and  they  cause  men  to  hope  for  the  fulfilment  of 

7  the  word.  Have  ye  not  seen  a  false  vision,  and  have  ye 
not  spoken  a  lying  divination,  and  said,  "  Jehovah  hath 

8  spoken,"  when  I  have  not  spoken  ?  Therefore  thus  saith 
the  Lord  Jthovah:  Because  ye  have  spoken  falsehood 


CH.  XIII.]  EZEKIEL.  175 

and  have  seen  a  lie,  therefore,  behold,  I  am  against  you, 
9  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah.  My  hand  shall  be  against  the 
prophets  that  see  ftilsehood  and  divine  lies.  They  shall 
not  be  in  the  assembly  of  my  people,  neither  shall  they  be 
written  in  the  register  of  the  house  of  Israel,  neither  shall 
they  enter  into  the  land  of  Israel ;  and  ye  shall  know  that 

10  I  am  the  Lord  Jehovah.  Because,  yea,  because  they 
seduce  my  people,  and  say,  "  Peace  !  "  when  there  is  no 
peace  ;  and  one  buildeth  up  a  wall,  and,  behold,  they  daub 

11  it  with  untempered  mortar;  say  to  them  which  daub  it 
with  untempered  mortar,  that  it  shall  fall ;  there  shall  be 
an  overflowing  shower,  and  ye,  O  great  hailstones,  shall 

12  fall,  and  a  stormy  wind  shall  rend  it.  So  when  the  wall 
is  fallen,  shall  not  men  say  to  you,  "  Where  is  the  daub- 

13  ing  wherewith  ye  have  daubed  it  ? "  Therefore  _  thus 
sa?th  the  Lord  Jehovah:  I  will  even  rend  it  with  a 
stormy  wind  in  my  fury,  and  there  shall  be  an  overflow- 
ing shower  in  mine  anger,  and  great   hailstones  in  my 

14  fury  to  consume  it.  Thus  I  will  break  down  the  wjill 
which  ye  have  daubed  with  untempered  mortar,  and  will 
bring  it  down  to  the  ground,  so  that  the  foundation  there- 
of shall  be  discovered ;  it  shall  fidl,  and  ye  shall  be  con- 
sumed in  the  midst  thereof,  that  ye  may  know  that  I  am 

13  Jehovah.  Thus  will  I  accomplish  my  fury  upon  the  wall, 
and  upon  them  that  daubed  it  with  untempered  mortar ; 
and  I  will  say  to  you,  The  wall  is  no  more,  nor  they  that 

16  daubed  it;  even  the  prophets  of  Israel,  who  prophesy 
concerning  Jerusalem,  and  see  visions  of  peace  for  her 
when  there  is  no  peace,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 

17  Likewise,  son  of  man,  set  thou  thy  face  against  the 
daughters  of  thy  people,  who  prophesy  out  of  their  own 

18  heart;  and  prophesy  thou  against?  them.  And  say.  Thus 
saith  the  Lord  Jehovah:  Woe  to  the  women  that  sew 
cushions  for  all  elbows,  and  make  pillows  for  heads 
of  every  stature,  to  ensnare  men  to  destruction  !  Will 
ye   hunt   the   lives    of    my   people,    and    shall   ye    save 

19  your  own?  And  will  ye  pollute  me  among  my  people 
for  handfuls  of  barley,  and  for  pieces  of  bread, ^  slaying 

•  them   that  should  not  die,  and  saving  them  alive  thati 
should  not  live,  by  lying  to  my  people,  who  hearken  to 

20  your   lies?      Therefore   thus   saith   the    Lord   Jehovah: 


176  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XIV. 

Behold,  I  will  set  myself  against  the  cushions  with  which 
ye  ensnare  men  to  destruction,  so  that  they  shall  escape 
you  ;  and  I  will  tear  them  from  your  arms,  and  make 
them  free   whom  ye  would   ensnare,  so  that  they  shall 

21  e.-cape  you.  Your  pillows  also  will  I  tear,  and  deliver 
my  people  out  of  your  hand,  and  they  shall  no  more  be 
in  your  hand  to  be  ensnared,  and  ye  shall  know  that  I 

22  am  Jehovah.  Because  with  lies  ye  have  made  sad  the 
heart  of  the  righteous,  whom  I  have  not  made  sad,  and 
have  strengthened  the  hands  of  the  wicked,  that  he  should 
not  return  from  his  wicked  way,  by  promising  him  life ; 

23  therefore  shall  ye  no  more  see  falsehood,  nor  divine  divi- 
nations ;  but  I  will  deliver  my  people  out  of  your  hand, 
and  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 


vn. 

Punishment  threatened  against  idolatrous  prophets,  and  those  who  consult 
them.—  Ch.  XIV.  1-11. 

1  Now  certain  men  of  the  elders  of  Israel  came  to  me, 

2  and  sat  before  me.     And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to 

3  me,  saying :  Son  of  man,  these  men  have  set  up  their 
idols  in  their  heart,  and  have  put  the  stumbling-block  of 
their  iniquity  before  tlieir  face  ;  shall  I  hear  them  when 

4  they  inquire  of  me?  Therefore  speak  with  them,  and 
say  to  tliem,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  :  Every  man 
of  the  house  of  Israel  that  setteth  up  his  idols  in  his  heart, 
and  putteth  the  stumbling-block  of  his  iniquity  before  his 
face,  and  cometh  to  the  prophet,  —  I,  Jehovah,  will  an- 

5  swer  him  according  to  the  multitude  of  his  idols  ;  that  I 
may  lay  hold  of  the  house  of  Israel  in  their  hearts,  be- 
cause tliey  are  all  estranged  from  me  through  their  idols. 

6  Therefore  say  to  the  house  of  Israel,  Thus  saith  the 
Lord  Jehovah :  Turn  ye,  even  turn  yourselves  from 
your  idols,  and  from  all  your  abominations  turn  ye  your 

7  faces  !  For  every  one  of  the  house  of  Israel,  or  of  the 
strangers  that  sojourn  in  Israel,  who  separateth  himself 
from  me,  and  setteth  up  his  idols  in  his  heart,  and  putteth 
the  stumbling-block  of  his  iniquity  before  his  face,  and 


CH.  XIV.]  EZEKIEL.  177 

cometh  to  the  prophet  to  inquire  of  me  through  him,  —  I, 

8  Jehovah,  will  answer  him  by  myself.  And  I  will  set 
my  face  against  that  man,  and  will  make  him  a  sign  and 
a  proverb,  and  will  cut  him  off  from  the  midst  of  my  peo- 
ple ;  and  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 

9  And  when  the  prophet  is  deceived  when  he  speaketh 
anything,  I,  Jehovah,  have  deceived  that  prophet ;  and  I 
will  stretch  out  my  hand  upon  him,  and  will  destroy  him 

10  from  the  midst  of  my  people  Israel.  And  they  shall  bear 
the  punishment  of  their  iniquity ;  the  punishment  of  the 
prophet  shall  be  even  as  the  punishment  of  him  that  in- 

11  quireth  of  him  ;  that  the  house  of  Israel  may  no  more  go 
astray  from  me,  nor  be  polluted  any  more  with  all  their 
transgressions  ;  but  that  they  may  be  my  people,  and  I 
may  be  their  God,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 


Yin. 

Some  of  the  wicked  shall  escape  a  general  destruction,  and  the  reason 
why.—  Ch.  XIV.  12-23. 

12,  13  Again  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying :  Son 
of  man,  when  a  land  sinneth  against  me,  and  grievously 
transgresseth,  and  I  stretch  out  my  hand  against  it,  and 
break  the  staff  of  its  bread,  and  send  famine  upon  it,  and 

14  cut  off  from  it  man  and  beast,  though  these  three  men 
were  in  it,  Noah,  Daniel,  and  Job,  they  should  deliver 
only  themselves  by  their  righteousness,  saith   the   Lord 

15  Jehovah.  When  I  cause  wild  beasts  to  pass  through  the 
land,  and  they  spoil  it,  and  it  be  desolate  so  that  none 

16  passeth  through  it  because  of  the  bea-ts,  though  these 
three  men  were  in  it,  as  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah, 
they  should  deliver  neither  sons  nor  daughters ;  they  only 

17  should  be  delivered,  but  the  land  should  be  desolate.  Or 
when  I  bring  a  sword  upon  that  land,  and  say,  Sword,  go 
through  the  land  so  that  I  cut  off  from  it  man  and  beast, 

18  though  these  three  men  were  in  it,  as  I  live,  saith  the 
Lord  Jehovah,  they  should  deliver  neither  sons  nor 
daughters,  but  the}  only  should  be  delivered  themselves, 

8* 


178  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XV. 

19  Or  when  I  send  a  pestilence  upon  that  land,  and  pour  out 
my  fury  upon  it  in  blood,  to  cut  off  from  it  man  and 

20  beast,  though  Noah,  Daniel,  and  Job  were  in  it,  as  I 
live,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah,  they  should  deliver  neither 
son  nor  daughter ;  they  should  deliver  only  themselves  by 

21  their  righteousness.  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Je- 
hovah :  How  much  more,  when  I  send  my  four  grievous 
judgments  against  Jerusalem,  the  sword,  and  the  famine, 
and  the  wild  beast,  and  the  pestilence,  to  cut  off  from  it 

22  man  and  beast  ?  Yet  behold,  therein  shall  be  left  a  rem- 
nant that  shall  be  brought  forth,  sons  and  daughters. 
Behold,  they  shall  come  forth  to  you,  and  ye  shall  see 
their  way  and  their  doings,  and  ye  shall  be  comforted 
concerning  the  evil  which  I  have  brouglit  upon  Jerusa- 
lem, even  concerning  all  which  I  have  brought  upon  her. 

23  They  shall  comfort  you,  when  ye  see  their  ways  and  their 
doings  ;  and  ye  shall  know  that  not  without  cause  I  have 
done  all  that  I  have  done  to  her,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 


IX. 

The  destruction  of  Jerusalem  represented  under  the  image  of  the  unfruitful 
vine,  fit  for  nothing  but  to  be  burned.  —  Ch.  XV. 

1,  2     And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying:  Son  of 
man,  what  is  the  wood  of  the  vine  more  than  any  wood, 

3  — a  branch,  that  is  among  the  trees  of  the  forest  ?  Shall 
wood  be  taken  from  it  to  be  wrought  into  any  work?     Or 

4  will  men  take  a  pin  of  it  to  hang  a  vessel  upon  ?  Behold, 
it  is  cast  into  the  fire  for  fuel ;  the  fire  devouretli  both  the 
ends  of  it,  and  the  middle  of  it  is  burned.     Is  it  then  fit 

5  for  any  work  ?  Behold,  when  it  was  whole,  nothing  could 
be  made  of  it;  how  much  less  can  anything  be  made  of  it 
when  the  fire  hath  devoured  it  and  it  is  burned  ! 

6  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  As  the  wood 
of  the  vine  among  the  trees  of  the  forest,  which  I  have 
given  to  the  fire  for  fuel,  so  will  I  give  to  it  the  inhab- 

7  itants  of  Jerusalem.  And  I  will  set  my  face  against  them  ; 
they  shall  go  out  from  one  fire,  and  another  fire  shall  de- 
vour them ;  and  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah,  when 


en.  XVI.}  EZEKIEL.  179 

8  I  set  my  fiice  against  them.  And  I  will  make  the  land 
desolate,  because  thej  have  grievously  trespassed,  saith  the 
Lord  Jehovah. 


X. 

Jerusalem  represented  under  the  image  of  a  woman,  whom  God  had  pre- 
served from  destruction  when  an  exposed  infant,  and  had  married  in 
her  maturity,  but  who  proved  ungrateful  and  false.  —  Cn.  XVI. 

1, 2      And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying :  Son  of 

3  man,  cause  Jerusalem  to  know  her  abominations,  and 
say,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  to  Jerusalem :  Thine 
origin  and  thy  nativity  were  of  the  land  of  Canaan.     Thy 

4  father  was  an  Amorite,  and  thy  mother  a  Hittite.  And 
as  to  thy  nativity,  in  the  day  tliou  wast  born  thy  navel 
was  not  cut,  neither  wast  thou  washed  in  water  so  as  to 
be    cleansed.     Thou  wast    not    sprinkled   with    salt,  nor 

5  wrapped  in  swaddling-clothes.  No  eye  pitied  thee,  to  do 
to  thee  any  of  these  things,  to  have  compassion  upon  thee ; 
but  thou  wast  cast  out  into  the  open  field,  so  as  to  loathe 
thyself,  on  the  day  thou  wast  born. 

6  And  when  I  passed  by  thee,  and  saw  thee  in  danger 
of  being  trodden  under  foot  in  thy  blood,  I  said  to  thee 
when  thou  wast  in  thy  blood.  Live !  yea,  T  said  to  thee 

7  when  thou  wast  in  thy  blood.  Live  !  I  caused  thee  to  in- 
crease like  the  plant  of  the  field,  and  thou  didst  grow,  and 
become  tall,  and  didst  attain  to  distinguished  charms. 
Thy  breasts  swelled,  and    thy  hair  grew,  whereas  thou 

8  wast  naked  and  bare.  And  when  I  passed  by  thee,  and 
saw  thee,  behold,  it  was  thy  time,  the  time  of  love.  And 
I  spread  my  skirt  over  thee  and  covered  thy  nakedness ; 
and  I  swore  to  thee,  and  entered  into  covenant  with  thee, 
and  thou  becamest  mine. 

9  Then  I  washed  thee  with  water,  yea,  I  thoroughly 
washed  away  thy  blood  from  thee,  and  I  anointed  thee 

10  with  oil.  I  clothed  thee  also  with  broidered  work,  and 
gave  thee  shoes  of  seal's  skin,  and  wrapped  thee  about 

11  with  fine  linen,  and  covered  thee  with  silk.    And  I  decked 


180  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XVI. 

thee  with  ornaments,  and  put  bracelets  upon  thy  hands, 

12  and  a  chain  upon  thy  neck.  And  I  put  a  jewel  in  thy 
nostril,  and  ear-rings  in  thine  ears,  and  a  beautiful  crown 

13  upon  thy  head.  Thus  wast  thou  adorned  with  gold  and 
silver,  and  thy  raiment  was  of  fine  linen,  and  silk,  and 
broidered  work.  Fine  flour  and  honey  and  oil  didst  thou 
eat;  and  thou  wast  exceedingly  beautiful,  and  didst  pros- 

14  per  so  as  to  become  a  queen.  And  thy  renown  went  forth 
among  the  nations  for  thy  beauty;  for  it  was  perfect 
through  my  comeliness,  which  I  had  put  upon  thee,  saith 

15  the  Lord  Jehovah.  But  thou  didst  trust  in  thy  beauty, 
and  didst  play  the  harlot  because  of  thy  renown,  and  didst 
lavish  thy  fornications  on  every  one  that  passed  by;  his 

16  was  it.  And  of  thy  garments  thou  didst  take,  and  didst 
make  thee  high  places,  spread  with  divers  colors,  and  didst 
play  the  harlot  thereon,  the  like  things  to  which  shall  not 

17  come  to  pass,  neither  shall  they  be.  Thou  didst  take  also 
thy  fair  jewels  of  my  gold  and  my  silver,  which  I  gave 
thee,  and  didst  make  to  thyself  images  of  men,  and  didst 

18  commit  fornication  with  them ;  and  thou  didst  take  thy 
broidered  garments  and  cover  them  ;  and  thou  didst  set 

19  mine  oil  and  mine  incense  before  them.  My  food  also, 
which  1  gave  thee,  fine  flour  and  oil  and  honey,  wherewith 
I  fed  thee,  thou  didst  set  it  before  them  with  a  sweet  savor ; 
even  thus  it  was,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 

20  Moreover  thou  didst  take  thy  sons  and  thy  daughters, 
whom  thou  didst  bear  to  me,  and  these  didst  thou  sacri- 
fice to  them  to  be  devoured.     Was  it  not  enough  for  thee 

21  to  commit  fornication,  that  thou  didst  slay  my  children, 
and  deliver  them  up  to  cause  them  to  pass  through  the 

22  fire  to  them?  And  in  all  thine  abominations  and  thy  for- 
nications, thou  didst  not  remember  the  days  of  thy  youth, 
when  thou  wast  naked  and  bare,  and  in  danger  of  being 

23  trampled  under  foot  in  thy  blood.  And  it  came  to  pass, 
after  all  thy  wickedness,   (woe,  woe  to  thee !   saith   the 

24  Lord  Jeliovah,)  that  thou  didst  build  for  thee  an  arched 

25  place,  and  make  thee  a  high  place  in  every  street;  at 
every  head  of  the  way  didst  thou  build  thy  high  place,  and 
didst  make  thy  beauty  to  be  abhorred,  and  didst  open  thy 
feet  to  every  one  that  passed  by,  and  didst  multiply  thy 
fornications. 


CH.  xvi.J  EZEKIEL.  181 

26  Thou  hast  also  committed  fornication  with  the  Egyp- 
tians, thy  neighbors,  having  great  members,  and  hast 
multiplied    thy   fornications    to    provoke    me    to   auger. 

27  Therefore,  behold,  I  have  stretched  out  my  hand  against 
thee,  and  have  diminished  thine  allowance,  and  delivered 
thee  to  the  will  of  them  that  hate  thee,  the  daughters 
of  the   Philistines,  who  are  ashamed  of  thy  lewd  way. 

28  Thou  hast  also  committed  fornication  with  the  Assyrians, 
because  thou  wast  insatiable ;  yea,  thou  hast  played  the 

29  harlot  with  them,  and  yet  couldst  not  be  satisfied.  Thou 
hast  also  multiplied  thy  fornication  with  the  land  of 
Canaan,  even  to  Chaldsea ;  and  yet  wast  thou  not  satisfied 

30  therewith.  How  faint  was  thy  heart,  saith  the  Lord 
Jehovah,  that  thou  didst  all  those  things  which  an  imperi- 

31  ous,  whorish  wife  doeth,  in  that  thou  didst  build  thine 
arched  place  at  the  head  of  every  way,  and  make  thy 
high  place  in  every  street !     Thou  wast  not  like  a  harlot, 

32  who  scoffeth  at  her  hire,  but  as  an  adulterous  wife,  that 

33  taketh  strangers  instead  of  her  husband.  To  all  women 
that  commit  fornication  men  give  a  reward ;  but  thou 
gavest  thy  gifts  to  all  thy  lovers,  and  hiredst  them  to 
come  to  thee  from  every  side  to  commit  fornication  with 

34  thee.  Thou  wast  the  reverse  of  other  women  in  thy  for- 
nications. None  followed  after  thee  to  commit  fornica- 
tion, but  thou  gavest  the  reward,  and  no  reward  was 
given  thee,  —  therefore  thou  wast  the  reverse. 

35,  36  Wherefore,  O  harlot,  hear  the  word  of  Jehovah  !  Thus 
saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  ;  Because  thy  treasure  was  poured 
out,  and  thy  nakedness  discovered  for  fornication  before 
thy  lovers,  and  all  thine  abominable  idols,  and  because 
of  the   blood   of  thy  children,  which  thou  didst  give  to 

37  them,  therefore,  behold,  I  will  gather  all  thy  lovers, 
to  whom  thou  wast  pleasing,  all  them  that  thou  hast 
loved,  with  all  them  that  thou  hast  hated,  I  will  gather 
them  against  thee  round  about,  and  will  uncover  thy 
nakedness  to  them,  that  they  may  see  all  thy  nakedness. 

38  And  I  will  judge  thee  as  women  that  break  wedlock  and 
shed  blood  are  judged,  and  I  will  cause  thy  blood  to  flow 

39  in  fury  and  jealousy.  And  I  will  give  thee  into  their 
hand,  and  they  shall  throw  down  thine  arched  place,  and 
break  down  thy  high  places.     They  shall  also  strip  thee 


182  EZEKIEL.  [en.  xvi. 

40  of  thy  clothes,  and  leave  thee  naked  and  bare.  They 
shall  also  bring  up  a  company  against  thee,  and  they  shall 
stone  thee  with  stones,  and  thrust  thee  through  with  their 

41  swords ;  and  they  shall  burn  thine  houses  with  fire,  and 
execute  judgments  upon  thee  in  the  sight  of  many  wo- 
men ;    and  I  will  cause  thee  to  cease  from    playing  t!ie 

42  harlot,  and  thou  shalt  give  hire  no  more.  So  will  I  make 
my  fury  toward  thee  to  rest,  and  ray  jealousy  shall  depart 
from  thee ;  and  I  will  be  quiet,  and  will  be  no  more  an- 

43  gry.  Because  thou  hast  not  remembered  the  days  of 
thy  youth,  but  hast  raged  against  me  in  all  these  things, 
therefore  I  also  will  recompense  thy  way  upon  thy  head, 
saith  the  Lord  Jehovah,  so  that  thou  shalt  not  commit 
this  wickedness  in  addition  to  all  thy  abominations. 

44  Behold,  all  they  that  use  proverbs  shall  utter  this  prov- 
erb concerning  thee  :    "  As  the  mother,  so  the  daughter." 

4o  Thou  art  the  daughter  of  thy  mother,  that  loathed  her 
husband  and  her  children  ;  and  thou  art  the  sister  of  thy 
sisters,  that  loathed  their  husbands  and  their  children ; 
your  mother  was  a  Hittite,  and  your  father  an  Amorite. 

46  And  thine  elder  sister  is  Samaria,  with  her  daughters, 
that  dwelleth  at  thy  left  hand  ;  and  thy  younger  sister, 
that   dwelleth    at   thy   right    hand,    is    Sodom,   w^ith    her 

47  daughters.  Yet  thou  hast  not  walked  in  their  ways,  nor 
done  according  to  their  abominations :  that  w^as  disdained 
by  you,  as  a  very  little  thing ;  thou  hast  been  more  cor- 

48  rupt  than  they  in  all  thy  ways.  As  I  live,  saith  the 
Lord  Jehovah,  Sodom,  thy  sister,  hath  not  done,  she  nor 
her  daughters,  as  thou  hast  done,  thou  and  thy  daughters. 

49  Behold,  this  was  the  iniquity  of  Sodom,  thy  sister:  in 
pride,  superabundance,  and  careless  ease  did  she  live,  she 
and  her  daughters,  and  the  hand  of  the  poor  and  needy  she 

50  did  not  strengthen  ;  and  they  were  haughty,  and  commit- 
ted abomination  before  me ;  therefore  I  took  them  away 

51  when  I  saw  it.  Neither  hath  Samaria  committed  half  of 
thy  sins  ;  but  thou  hast  multiplied  thine  abominations  more 
than  they,  and  hast  justified  thy  sisters  in  all  thine  abom- 

52  inations  which  thou  hast  done.  Now,  therefore,  bear 
thou  thy  shame,  to  which  thou  hast  condemned  thy  sis- 
ters, since  by  thy  sins  which  thou  hast  committed,  more 
abominable  than  they,  they  are  more  righteous  than  thoa 


CH.  XVII.]  EZEKIEL.  183 

Yea,  be  thou  confounded  and  bear  thy  shame,  in  that 

53  thou  hasfr-  justified  thy  sisters.  Yet  I  will  bring  them 
back  from  their  captivity,  even  Sodom  and  her  daughters 
from  their  captivity,  and  Samaria  and  her  daughters  from 
their  captivity  ;  thee  also  will  I  bring  back  from  thy  cap- 

54  tivity  in  the  midst  of  them ;  that  thou  mayst  bear  thy 
shame,  and  mayst  be  confounded  on  account  of  all  which 

55  thou  hast  done,  in  that  thou  art  a  comfort  to  them.  And 
thy  sisters,  Sodom  and  her  daughters,  shall  return  to  tlieir 
former  estate,  and  Samaria  and  her  daughters  shall  re- 
turn to  their  former  estate,  and  thou  and  thy  daughters 

56  shall  return  to  your  former  estate.  And  yet  Sodom,  thy 
sister,  was  not  mentioned  by  thy  mouth  in  the  day  of  thy 

57  pride  before  thy  wickedness  was  discovered,  as  in  the 
time  of  thy  reproach  from  the  daughters  of  Syria,  and 
from  all  that  were  round  about  her,  and  from  the  daugh- 
ters of  the  Philistines,  who  despised    thee  round  about. 

58  Thy  wickedness  and  thine  abominations  must  thou  now 
bear,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 

59  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  I  will  do  to  thee  as 
thou  hast  done,  who  hast  despised  the  oath  and  hast  bro- 

60  ken  the  covenant.  But  I  will  remember  my  covenant 
with  thee  in  the  days  of  thy  youth,  and  I  will  establish 

61  with  thee  an  everlasting  covenant.  Then  shalt  thou 
remember  thy  ways,  and  be  ashamed,  when  thou  shalt 
receive  thy  sisters,  thine  elder  and  thy  younger,  and  I 
shall  give  them   to  thee  for  daughters,  i3ut  not  by  thy 

62  observance  of  thy  covenant.  But  I  will  establish  my 
covenant  with  thee,  and  thou  shalt  know  that  I  am  Jeho- 

63  vah ;  that  thou  mayst  remember  and  be  confounded,  and 
not  open  thy  mouth  any  more  for  shame,  when  1  forgive 
thee  all  which  thou  hast  done,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 


XI. 

Zedekiali*s  fate  set  forth  in  the  parable  of  the  two  eagles,  and  its  explica- 
tion.   Promise  of  a  glorious  king.  —  Ch.  XVIL 

1,  2      And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying:  Son  of 
man,  put  forth  a  riddle,  and  .speak  a  parable  to  the  house 


184  EZEKIEL.  [cn.  XVII. 

3  of  Israel ;  and  say,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  A  great 
eagle,  with  great  wings,  with  long  feathers,  full  of  plu- 
mage, which  had  divers  colors,  carae  to  Lebanon,  and  took 

4  the  highest  branch  of  a  cedar.  He  cropped  off  the  top  of 
its  young  twigs,  and  carried  it  into  a  land  of  traffic ;  he 

5  set  it  in  a  city  of  merchants.  He  took  also  one  of  the 
shoots  of  the  land,  and  put  it  in  a  fruitful  field ;  he  placed 

6  it  by  great  waters,  and  set  it  as  a  willow-tree.  And  it 
grew  and  became  a  spreading  vine  of  low  stature,  whose 
branches  turned  towards  him,  and  whose  roots  were  under 
him.  It  became  a  vine,  that  brought  forth  branches,  and 
shot  forth  boughs. 

7  There  was  also  another  great  eagle,  with  great  wings 
and  many  feathers ;  and,  behold,  this  vine  bent  its  roots 
toward  him,  and  shot  forth  its  branches  toward  him,  that 
be  might  water  it  from  the  beds  where  it  was  planted. 

8  And  yet  it  was  planted  in  a  good  soil,  by  great  waters, 
that  it  might  bring  forth  branches,  and  that  it  might  bear 

9  fruit,  and  be  a  goodly  vine.  Say  thou,  Thus  saith  the 
Lord  Jehovah :  Shall  it  prosper  ?  Shall  not  he  pull  up 
its  roots,  and  cut  off  its  fruit,  that  it  wither?  In  all  tlie 
leaves  of  its  branching  sliall  it  wither  ;  even  without  a 
mighty  arm,  or  many  people,  shall  he  pluck  it  up  by  the 

10  roots.  Yea,  behold,  it  is  planted;  but  shall  it  prosper? 
Shall  it  not  utterly  wither,  wdien  the  east  wind  toucheth 
it?     It  sliall  wither  in  the  beds  where  it  grew. 


& 


11  Moreover,  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying: 

12  Say  now  to  the  rebeUious  house,  Know  ye  not  what  these 
things  mean  ?  Say,  behold,  the  king  of  Babylon  came  to 
Jerusalem,  and  took  her  king  and  her  princes,  and  led 

13  them  with  him  to  Babylon,  and  took  one  of  the  king's 
offspring,  and  made  a  covenant  with  him,  and  took  an 
oath  of  him,  and  the  mighty  of  the  land  he  took  away, 

14  that  the  kingdom  might  be  brought  low,  so  as  not  to  lift 
itself  up ;  that  the  covenant  might  be  kept,  and  stand. 

15  But  he  rebelled  against  him,  in  sending  his  ambassadors 
into  Egypt,  that  they  might  give  him  horses  and  much 
people.  Shall  he  prosper?  Shall  he  escape  that  doeth 
such  things  ?     Shall  he  break  the  covenant  and  be  deliv- 

16  ered?     As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah,  surely  in  the 


CH.  XVIII.]  EZEKIEL.  185 

place  where  the  king  dwelleth  that  made  him  kin^,  whoso 
oath  he  despised,  and  whose  covenant  he  broke,  even  with 

17  him  in  the  midst  of  Babylon  shall  he  die.  Neither  shall 
Pharaoh  with  his  mighty  army  and  great  multitude  ac- 
complish anything  for  him  in  war,  when  they  shall  cast  up 

18  mounds,  and  build  forts  to  cut  oiFmany  persons.  He  hatli 
despised  the  oath,  and  broken  the  covenant ;  behold,  he 
hath  given  the  hand,  and  yet  done  all  these  things ;  he 

19  shall  not  escape !  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jeho- 
vah :  As  I  live,  surely  mine  oath,  which  he  hath  despised, 
and  my  covenant,  which  he  hath  broken,  will  I  recom- 

20  pense  upon  his  own  head.  And  I  will  spread  my  net 
upon  him,  and  he  shall  be  taken  in  my  snare,  and  I  will 
bring  him  to  Babylon,  and  will  contend  with  him  there 
for  his  trespass   which   he   hath   committed  against   me. 

21  And  all  his  fugitives  with  all  his  hosts  shall  fall  by  the 
sword,  and  they  that  remain  shall  be  scattered  to  all  the 
winds ;  and  ye  shall  know  that  I,  Jehovah,  have  spoken  it. 

22  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah;  I  also  will  take  from 
the  top  of  the  high  cedar,  and  will  set  it ;  and  from  the 
highest  of  its  twigs  will  I  croj)  a  tender  one,  and'  plant  it 

23  upon  a  high  and  lofty  mountain.  Upon  a  high  mountain 
of  Israel  will  I  plant  it,  and  it  shall  bring  forth  boughs, 
and  bear  fruit,  and  be  a  goodly  cedar ;  and  under  it  shall 
dwell  birds  of  every  wing;  in  the  shadow  of  its  branches 

24  shall  they  dwell  And  all  the  trees  of  the  field  shall 
know  that  I,  Jehovah,  have  brought  down  the  high  tree, 
and  exalted  the  low  tree ;  that  I  have  dried  up  the  green 
tree,  and  made  the  dry  tree  green.  I,  Jehovah,  have 
spoken,  and  will  do  it. 


xn. 

The  equity  of  God's  dealings.  —  Ch.  XVIII. 

1  The   word    of  Jehovah   came    to  me    again,   saying: 

2  What  mean  ye,  that  ye  use  this  proverb  concerning  the 
land    of  Israel,  saying,  "  The    fathers    have   eaten  sour 

3  grapes,  and  the  children's  teeth  are  set  on  edge"?     As  I 


186  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  xviu 

live,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah,  ye  shall  not  have  occasion 

4  any  more  to  use  this  proverb  iu  Israel.  Behold,  all  souls 
are  mine ;  as  the  soul  of  the  father,  so  also  the  soul  of  the 

5  son,  is  mine ;  the  soul  that  sinneth,  it  shall  die.     But  if  a 

6  man  be  just,  and  do  that  which  is  lawful  and  right ;  if  he 
eat  not  upon  the  mountains,  and  lift  not  up  his  eyes  to  the 
idols  of  the  house  of  Israel,  and  defile  not  his  neighbor's 
wife,  and  come  not  near  a  woman  during  her  unclean- 

7  ness  ;  if  he  oppress  not  any,  if  he  restore  to  the  debtor  liis 
pledge,  spoil  none  by  violence,  give  his  bread  to  tlie  hun- 

8  gry,  and  cover  the  naked  with  a  garment ;  if  he  give  not 
forth  upon  usury,  and  take  not  increase ;  if  he  withdraw 
his  hand  from  iniquity,  and  give  true  judgment  between 

9  man  and  man  ;  if  he  walk  in  my  statutes  and  keep  my 
commandments,  to  deal  upriglitly,  —  he  is  just;  he  shall 
surely  live,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 

10  But  if  he  have  a  son  that  is  a  robber,  a  shedder  of 
blood,  and  that  doeth  to  his  brother  any  of  these  things, 

11  and  doeth  not  all  those  duties,  but  eateth  upon  the  moun- 

12  tains,  and  defileth  his  neighbor's  wife,  oppresseth  the  poor 
and  needy,  spoileth  by  violence,  restoreth  not  the  pledge, 
lifteth  up  liis  eyes  to  idols,  and  committeth  abomination, 

13  giveth  forth  upon  usury,  and  taketh  increase,  shall  he 
live  ?  No !  he  shall  not  live.  He  hath  done  all  these 
abominations ;  he  shall  surely  die ;  his  blood  shall  be 
upon  him. 

14  Yet  lo,  if  he  have  a  son  that  seeth  all  the  sins  which 
his  father  committed,  that  seeth  them  and  doeth  not  such 

15  like,  that  eateth  not  upon  the  mountains,  nor  lifteth  up 
his  eyes  to  the  idols  of  the  house  of  Israel,  nor  defileth 

16  his  neighbor's  wife,  nor.  opi)resseth  any,  nor  taketh  a 
pledge,  nor  spoileth  by  violence,  but  giveth  his  food  to 
the   hungry,  and  covereth   the  naked  with   a   garment, 

17  keepeth  back  his  hand  from  the  poor,  and  taketh  no  usury 
or  increase,  keepeth  my  commandments,  and  walketh  in 
my  statutes,  he  shall  not  die  for  the  iniquity  of  his  father ; 

18  he  shall  surely  live.  As  for  his  father,  because  he  cruelly 
oppressed,  spoiled  his  brother  by  violence,  and  did  that 
which  is  not  good  among  his  people,  lo,  he  shall  die  for 
his  iniquity. 

19  Yet  say  ye,  "Why  ?  Doth  not  the  son  bear  the  iniquity 


CH.  XTiii.J  EZEKIEL.  187 

of  the  father  ?  "     When  the  son  doeth  that  which  is  law- 
ful and  right,  keepeth  all  my  statutes  and  doeth  them, 

20  he  shall  surely  live.  The  soul  that  sinneth,  it  shall  die. 
The  son  shall  not  bear  tlie  iniquity  of  the  father,  neither 
shall  the  father  bear  the  iniquity  of  the  son.  The  right- 
eousness of  the  righteous  shall  be  upon  hira,  and  the  wick- 

21  edness  of  the  wicked  shall  be  upon  him.  But  if  the 
wicked  will  turn  from  all  his  sins  which  he  hath  commit- 
ted, and  keep  all  my  statutes,  and  do  that  which  is  lawful 

22  and  right,  he  shall  surely  live,  he  shall  not  die.  None 
of  his  transgressions  which  he  hath  committed  shall  be 
remembered  unto  him;   for  his  righteousness,  which  he 

23  hath  done,  he  shall  live.  Have  I  any  pleasure  at  all  that 
the  wicked  should  die,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah,  and  not 

24  that  he  should  turn  from  his  ways  and  live  ?  But  when 
the  righteous  turneth  from  his  righteousness,  and  com- 
mitteth  iniquity,  and  doeth  according  to  all  the  abomina- 
tions which  the  wicked  man  doeth,  shall  he  live?  All 
his  righteousness  which  he  hath  done  shall  not  be  remem- 
bered ;  for  his  trespass  which  he  hath  trespassed,  and  for 
his  sin  which  he  hath  sinned,  for  them  shall  he  die. 

25  Yet  ye  say,  "  The  way  of  the  Lord  is  not  right."  Hear 
now,  O  house  of  Israel !     Is  not  my  way  right  ?  "     Is  it 

26  not  your  ways  that  are  not  right?  When  a  righteous 
man  turneth  from  his  righteousness,  and  committeth  iniq- 
uity, and  on  this  account  dieth,  for  his  iniquity  which  he 

27  hath  done  doth  he  die.  And  when  the  wicked  man  turn- 
eth from  his  iniquity  which  he  hath  committed,  and 
doeth  that  which  is  lawful  and  right,  he  shall  save  his 

28  soul  alive.  Because  he  considereth  and  turneth  from  all 
his  transgressions  which  he  hath  committed,  he  shall 
surely  live,  he  shall  not  die. 

29  Yet  saith  the  house  of  Israel,  "  The  way  of  the  Lord 
is  not  right."     O  house  of  Israel,  are  not  my  ways  right  ? 

30  Is  it  not  your  ways  that  are  not  right  ?  Therefore  I  will 
judge  you,  O  house  of  Israel,  every  one  according  to  his 
ways,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah.  Turn  ye,  turn  yourselves 
from  all  your  transgressions,  so  that  iniquity  may  not  be 

31  your  ruin.  Cast  away  from  you  all  your  transgressions 
which  ye  have  committed,  and  make  you  a  new  heart, 


188  EZEKIEL.  [cii.  XIX. 

and  a  new  spirit !     For  why  will  ye  die,  O  house  of 
32  Israel  ?     For  I  have  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  him  that 
dieth,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah.     Wherefore  turn  your- 
selves and  live ! 


xni. 

Parables  concerning  the  calamities  which  befell  the  successors  of  Josiah 
and  the  people.  —  Ch.  XIX. 

1  Moreover,  take  thou  up  a  lamentation  for  the  princes 

2  of  Israel,  and  say  :  — 

How  lay  thy  mother  at  ease,  a  lioness  among  lions ! 
Among  young  lions  she  nourished  her  whelps ; 

3  And  she  brouglit  up  one  of  her  whelps ; 
He  became  a  young  lion, 

And  he  learned  to  seize  the  prey ;  he  devoured  men. 

4  And  when  the  nations  heard  of  him,  he  was  taken  in 

their  pit, 
And  they  brought   him  with    nose-rings  to  the  land  of 
Egypt. 

5  And  when  she  saw  that  she  waited  in  vain,  and  that  her 

hope  was  lost, 
She  took  another  of  her  whelj^s,  and   she  made  him  a 
young  lion. 

6  And  he  went  up  and  down  among  the  lions ;  he  became 

a  young  lion, 
And  he  learned  to  seize  the  prey ;  he  devoured  men. 

7  He  knew  their  widows,  and  laid  waste  their  cities, 

And  the  land  was  desolate,  and  all  thfvt  was  therein,  be- 
fore the  voice  of  his  roaring. 

8  Then  the  nations  set  themselves  agrirw^t   hi'T  on  every 

side  from  the  provinces. 
And  spread  their  net  over  him ; 
He  was  taken  in  their  pit. 

9  And  they  put  him  with  nose  tlng^  int.>  \  tt».^'» 
And  carried  him  to  the  king  -^f  Bnbyi  :•».  , 
And  they  carried  him  to  a  s^^'onghcM, 

That  his  voice  might  be  hearA  no  k:oi1 
Upon  the  mountains  of  Israel. 


CH.  XX.]  EZEKIEL.  189 

10  Thy  mother  was  like  a  vine  planted  like  thyself  by  the 

waters ; 
She  was  fruitful  and  full  of  branches  by  reason  of  many 
waters ; 

11  She  had  strong  rods  for  sceptres  of  rulers, 

And  her  stature  was  high  among  the  thick  branches, 
So  that  she  was  conspicuous  in  her  height, 
And  the  multitude  of  her  branches. 

12  But  she  was  plucked  up  in  fury. 
She  was  cast  down  to  the  ground, 
And  the  east  wind  dried  up  her  fruit. 

Her  strong  rods  Avere  broken  and  withered ; 
The  fire  consumed  them. 

13  And  now  she  is  planted  in  the  desert. 
In  a  dry  and  thirsty  land. 

14  And  a  fire  is  gone  forth  out  of  a  rod  of  her  branches, 
Which  hath  devoured  her  fruit, 

So  that  she  hath  no  strong  rod  for  a  ruler's  sceptre. 

This  is  a  lamentation,  and  it  shall  be  for  a  lamentation. 


XIV. 

The  prophet  rehearses  the  rebellions  of  Israel.     Israel  is  threatened.    A 
promise  of  mercy.  —  Ch.  XX.  1-44. 

1  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  seventh  year,  in  the  fifth 
month,  on  the  tenth  day  of  the  month,  that  certain  of  the 
elders  of  Israel  came  to  inquire  of  Jehovah,  and  sat  be- 

2  fore  me.     Then  came  the  word  of  Jehovah  to  me,  saying  : 

3  Son  of  man,  speak  to  the  elders  of  Israel,  and  say  to  them, 
Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  Are  ye  come  to  inquire 
of  me  ?     As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah,  I  will  not  be 

4  inquired  of  by  you.  Punish  them,  punish  them,  son  of 
man,  cause  them  to  know  the  abominations  of  their  fa- 

5  thers,  and  say  to  them.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  : 
At  the  time  when  I  chose  Israel,  I  lifted  up  my  hand  to 
the  race  of  the  house  of  Jacob,  and  made  myself  known  to 
them  in  the  land  of  Egypt ;    I  lifted  up  my  hand  to  them, 

6  and   said,  I   am  Jehovah,  your    God.     At  that   time  J 


190  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XX. 

lifted  up  my  hand  to  them,  that  I  would  bring  them  forth 
out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  into  a  land  which  1  had  looked 
out  for  them,  flowing  with  milk  and  honey,  the  glory  of 

7  all  lands.  And  I  said  to  them,  Cast  ye  away  from  you 
every  one  the  abomination  of  his  eyes,  and  defile  not 
yourselves  with  the  idols  of  Egypt !  I  am  Jehovah,  your 
God. 

8  But  they  rebelled  against  me,  and  would  not  hearken 
to  me ;  they  did  not  cast  away  every  one  the  abomina- 
tions of  his  eyes,  neither  did  they  forsake  the  idols  of 
Egypt.  Then  I  said  that  I  would  pour  out  my  fury  upon 
them,  that  I  would  accomplish  mine  anger  against  them 

9  in  the  midst  of  the  land  of  Egypt.  But  I  acted  for  my 
name's  sake,  that  it  might  not  be  polluted  in  the  sight  of 
the  nations,  in  the  midst  of  whom  they  were  ;  and  before 
their  eyes   I   made  myself  known   to   them,  in   bringing 

10  them  forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt.  And  I  brought 
them  forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  led  them  into 

11  the  wilderness.  And  T  gave  them  my  statutes,  and  made 
known   to  them  my  laws,  through  which   the  man   that 

12  keepeth  them  shall  live.  Also  I  gave  them  my  sabbaths, 
that  they  might  be  a  sign  between  me  and  them,  that 
they  might  know  that  I,  Jehovah,  sanctify  them. 

13  But  the  house  of  Israel  rebelled  against  me  in  the  des- 
ert ;  they  walked  not  in  my  statutes,  and  they  despised 
my  laws,  through  which  the  man  that  keepeth  them  shall 
live,  and  my  sabbaths  they  greatly  polluted.  Then  I  said 
that  I  would  pour  out  my  fury  upon  them  in  the  desert, 

14  to  consume  them.  But  I  acted  for  my  name's  sake,  that 
it  might  not  be  polluted   before  the  nations,  in   whose 

15  sight  1  brought  them  forth.  Yet  I  lifted  up  my  hand  to 
them  in  the  desert,  that  I  would  not  bring  them  into  the 
land  which   I  had  given    them,  flowing  with    milk    and 

16  honey,  the  beauty  of  all  lands ;  because  they  despised  my 
laws,  and  walked  not  in  my  statutes,  but  polluted  my  sab- 

17  baths  ;  for  their  heart  went  after  their  idols.  Neverthe- 
less mine  eye  spared  them,  so  that  I  did  not  destroy  them ; 
neither  did  I  make  an  end  of  them  in  the  desert. 

18  And  I  said  to  their  sons  in  the  desert,  Walk  ye  not  ia 
the  statutes  of  your  fathers,  neither  observe  their  ordi- 

19  nances,  nor  defile  yourselves  with  their  idols !     I  am  Je- 


CH.  xx.J  EZEKIEL.  191 

hovah,  your   God;  walk  in  my  statutes,  and  keep  my 

20  ordinances,  and  do  tliem.  And  hallow  my  sabbaths,  that 
they  may  be  a  sign  between  me  and  you,  that  ye  may 
know  that  I  am  Jehovah,  your  God. 

21  But  the  sons  rebelled  against  me ;  they  walked  not  in 
my  statutes,  neither  kept  they  my  ordinances  to  do  them, 
through  which  the  man  that  doeth  them  shall  live,  and 
they  polluted  my  sabbaths.  Then  I  said  that  I  would 
pour  out  my  fury  upon  them,  and  accomplish  mine  anger 

22  upon  them  in  the  desert.  Nevertheless  I  held  back  my 
hand,  and  acted  for  my  name's  sake,  that  it  should  not  be 
polluted  before  the  nations,  in  whose  sight  I  brought  them 

23  forth.  I  also  lifted  up  my  hand  against  them  in  the  des- 
ert, that  I  would  scatter  them  among  the  nations,  and 

24  disperse  them  through  the  countries,  because  they  did 
not  observe  mine  ordinances,  but  despised  my  statutes, 
and  polluted  my  sabbaths,  and  their  eyes  were  after  the 

25  idols  of  their  fathers.  Moreover  I  gave  them  statutes 
that  were  not  good,  and  ordinances  by  which  they  should 

26  not  live.  And  I  polluted  them  in  their  offerings,  in  that 
they  caused  every  first-born  child  to  pass  through  the  fire, 
that  I  might  destroy  them,  to  the  end  that  they  might 
know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 

27  Therefore  speak  to  the  house  of  Israel,  0  son  of  man, 
and  say  to  them,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  Yet 
in  this  your  fathers  dishonored  me,  and  trespassed  against 

28  me.  For  when  I  had  brought  them  into  the  land  con- 
cerning which  I  lifted  up  my  hand,  that  I  would  give  it 
to  them,  then  they  saw  every  high  hill,  and  all  the  thick 
trees,  and  there  they  offered  their  sacrifices,  and  there 
they  presented  their  provoking  oblation,  and  there  they 
brought  their  sweet  savor,  and  there  they  poured  out  their 

29  drink-offerings.  Then  I  said  to  them.  What  is  the  high 
place  to  which  ye  go  ?  And  it  is  called  The  High  Place 
unto  this  day. 

30  Therefore  say  to  the  house  of  Israel,  Thus  saith  the 
Lord  Jehovah  :  Are  ye  polluted  after  the  manner  of  your 
fathers,  and  do  ye  commit  fornication  according  to  their 

31  abominations,  and  by  offering  your  gifts,  and  causing  your 
sons  to  pass  through  the  fire, — are  ye  polluted  with  al7 


192  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XX 

your  idols  even  to  this  day,  and  shall  I  be  inquired  of  by 
you,  O  house  of  Israel?    As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah, 

32  I  will  not  be  inquired  of  by  you  !  And  that  which  cometh 
into  your  mind  shall  not  come  to  pass,  when  ye  say,  "  We 
will  be  as  the  nations,  as  the  families  of  the  countries,  wor- 

33  shipping  wood  and  stone."  As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  Je- 
hovah, surely  with  a  mighty  hand,  and  with  a  stretched 
out  arm,  and  with  fury  poured  out  will  I  rule  over  you. 

34  And  I  will  bring  you  forth  from  the  nations,  and  gather 
you  from  the  countries,  wherein  ye  are  scattered,  with  a 
mighty  hand,  and  with  a  stretched  out  arm,  and  with  fury 

35  poured  out.  And  I  will  bring  you  into  the  desert  of  the 
nations,  and  there  will  I  contend  with  you  face  to  face. 

36  Even  as  I  contended  with  your  fathers  in  the  desert  of  the 
land  of  Egypt,  so  also  will  I  contend  with  you,  saith  the 

37  Lord  Jehovah.  And  I  will  cause  you  to  pass  under  the 
rod,  and  I  will  bring  you  into  the  bond  of  the  covenant. 

38  And  I  will  purge  out  from  among  you  the  rebels,  and  them 
that  transgress  against  me  ;  out  of  the  country  where  they 
sojourn  will  I  bring  them  fortli,  but  they  shall  not  enter 
into  the  land  of  Israel;  and  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 

39  As  for  you,  O  house  of  Israel,  tiuis  saith  the  Lord  Je- 
hovah :  Go  ye,  serve  ye  every  one  his  idols  in  future  also, 
if  ye  will  not  obey  me  !     But  pollute  ye  my  holy  name  no 

40  more  with  your  gifts  and  your  idols !  For  upon  my  holy 
mountain,  upon  the  lofty  mountain  of  Israel,  there  shall 
all  the  house  of  Israel,  all  that  are  in  the  land,  serve  me ; 
there  will  I  accept  them,  and  there  will  I  require  your 
offerings,  and  the  first  fruits  of  your  oblations,  with  all 

41  things  which  ye  consecrate  to  me.  I  will  accept  you  as 
a  sweet  savor,  when  I  bring  you  forth  from  the  nations, 
and  gather  you  from  the  countiies,  wherein  ye  have  been 
scattered,  and  will  through  you  be  honored  before  the  eyes 

42  of  the  nations.  And  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah, 
when  I  bring  you  into  the  land  of  Israel,  into  the  country 
concerning  which  I  lifted  up  my  hand,  that  I  would  give 

43  it  to  your  fathers.  And  there  shall  ye  remember  your 
ways,  and  all  your  doings,  wherein  ye  have  been  polluted; 
and  ye  shall  loathe  yourselves   for  all  your  evil  deeds 

44  which  ye  have  committed.  And  ye  shall  know  that  I  am 
Jehovah,  when  I  deal  with  you  for  my  name's  sake,  not 
according  to  your  evil  ways,  nor  according  to  your  corrupt 

,    doings,  O  ye  house  of  Israel,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 


OH.  Xil.]  EZKKIEIi.  193 


XV. 

The  destruction  of  Judsea  by  the  Chaldeans.  —  Ch.  XX.  45  —  XXL  27. 
The  destruction  of  the  Ammonites.  —  Ch.  XXI.  28  -  32. 

45,  46  And  the  word  of  Jehovali  came  to  me,  saying :  Son 
of  man,  set  thy  face  toward  the  south,  and  drop  thy  word 
against  the  South,  and  prophesy  against  the  forest  of  the 

47  field  in  the  South ;  and  say  to  the  forest  of  the  South, 
Hear  the  word  of  Jehovali  !  Thus  saitli  the  Lord  Jeho- 
vah :  Behold,  I  will  kindle  in  thee  a  fire,  which  shall  de- 
vour every  green  tree  and  every  dry  tree  within  thee ; 
the  fierce  flame  shall  not  be  quenched,  and  all  parts  from 

48  the  south  to  the  north  shall  be  burned  therein.  And  all 
flesh  shall  see  that  I,  Jehovah,  have  kindled  it ;  it  shall 
not  be  quenched. 

49  And  I  said,  Ah,  Lord  Jehovah,  they  say  of  me,  "  Doth 

1  he  not  speak  in  parables  ?  "    Then  came  the  word  of  Je- 

2  hovah  to  me,  saying:  Son  of  man,  set  thy  face  toward 
Jerusalem,  and  drop  thy  word    toward   the  holy  places, 

3  and  prophesy  against  the  land  of  Israel,  and  say  to 
the  land  of  Israel,  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  Behold,  I  am 
against  thee,  and  I  will  draw  forth  my  sword  out  of 
its  sheath,  and  will  cut  off  from  thee  the  righteous  and 

4  the  wicked.  Seeing  then  that  I  cut  off  from  thee  the 
righteous  and  the  wicked,  therefore  shall  my  sword  go 
forth  out  of  its  sheath  against  all  flesh  from  the  south 

5  to  the  north.  And  all  flesh  shall  know  that  I,  Jeho- 
vah, have  drawn   forth  my  sword  out  of  its  sheath ;    it 

6  shall  not  return  any  more.  Thou,  therefore,  O  son  of 
man,  sigh !     With   the  breaking  of  thy  loins,  and  with 

7  bitterness,  sigh  before  their  eyes !  And  when  they  shall 
say  to  thee,  "  Wherefore  sighest  thou  ? "  thou  shalt  say, 
"  For  the  rumor,  because  it  cometh  ;  and  every  heart  shall 
melt,  and  all  hands  shall  be  feeble,  and  every  spirit  shall 
fail,  and  all  knees  shall  flow  with  water.  Behold  it  com- 
eth, it  shall  be  brought  to  pass,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah." 

8,  9  Also  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying :  Son 
of  man,  prophesy  and  say.  Thus  saith  Jehovah :  Say,  The 

VOL.    II.  9 


194  EZEKIEL.  [cH.  XXI. 

10  sword,  tlie  sword  is  sharpened  and  furbished.  It  is  sharp- 
ened, that  it  may  make  sore  slaughter ;  it  is  furbished 
that  it  may  glitter.     Or  shall  we  make  mirth  ?     The  staff 

11  of  my  son  despiseth  every  rod.  And  he  gave  it  to  be  fur- 
bished that  it  might  be  handled.  The  sword  is  sharpened 
and  furbished,  to  be  given  into  the  hand  of  the  slayer. 

12  Cry  and  howl,  son  of  man!  for  it  cometh  upon  my  people, 
upon  all  the  princes  of  Israel.  They  are  given  up  to  the 
sword  with  my  people.     Therefore  smite  upon  thy  thigh. 

13  The  trial  is  made.  And  what  if  even  the  contemning 
staff  should  be  no  more  ?  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 

14  Thou,  therefore,  son  of  man,  prophesy,  and  smite  thine 
hands  together !  for  twice,  yea  thrice,  cometh  the  sword, 
a  sword  of  slaughter,  a  sword  of  great  slaughter,  that 

15  besetteth  them  on  every  side.  That  their  hearts  may 
faint,  and  their  overthrown  may  be  multiplied,  I  have  set 
the  terror  of  the  sword  against  all  their  gates.     Ah,  how 

16  is  it  made  to  glitter,  polished  for  slaughter !  Unite  thy- 
self, smite  to  the  right,  prepare  thyself,  smite  to  the  left, 

17  whithersoever  thine  edge  is  turned  !  I  also  will  smite 
my  hands  together,  and  cause  mine  anger  to  cease.  I, 
Jehovah,  have  spoken  it. 

18,  19  The  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me  again,  saying :  Do 
thou,  son  of  man,  appoint  thee  two  ways  by  which  the 
sword  of  the  king  of  Babylon  may  come ;  from  one 
land  shall  both  of  them  come  ;  and  choose  thou  a  place, 

20  choose  it  at  the  head  of  the  way  to  the  city.  Appoint  a 
way,  that  the  sword  may  come  towards  Rabbath  of  the 
sons  of  Ammon,  and  towards  Judah,  to  Jerusalem,  the 

21  fenced  city.  For  the  king  of  Babylon  shall  stand  at  the 
parting  of  the  way,  at  the  head  of  the  two  ways,  to  use 
divination  ;  he  shall  shake  together  his  arrows,  he  shall 

22  consult  the  teraphim,  he  shall  look  at  the  liver.  In 
his  right  hand  shall  be  the  lot :  Jerusalem,  to  set  bat- 
tering-rams, to  open  the  mouth  with  the  war-cry,  to  lift 
up  the  voice  in  shouting,  to  set  battering-rams  against 

23  the  gates,  to  cast  up  a  mound,  to  build  a  tower.  And  this 
shall  appear  a  false  divination  in  their  sight,  because  they 
swore  oaths  to  them.  But  he  shall  call  to  remembrance 
their  iniquity,  that  they  may  be  taken. 


CH.  XXII.]  EZEKIEL.  195 

24  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  :  Because  ye 
make  your  iniquity  to  be  remembered,  in  that  your  trans- 
gressions are  discovered,  so  that  in  all  your  doings  your 
sins  do  appear,  —  because,  I  say,  ye  bring  yourselves  into 

25  remembrance,  ye  shall  be  taken  with  that  hand.  And 
thou,  profane,  wicked  prince  of  Israel,  whose  day  cometh 

26  in  the  time  when  iniquity  bringeth  destruction !  Thus 
saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  :  I  will  remove  the  diadem,  and 
take  away  the  crown  !    This  shall  no  more  be  this.    I  exalt 

27  him  that  is  low,  and  abase  him  that  is  high.  I  will  de- 
stroy, destroy,  destroy  it ;  and  it  shall  be  no  more  until  he 
come  to  whom  the  right  belongeth,  and  to  whom  I  will 
give  it. 

28  And  thou,  son  of  man,  prophesy,  and  say :  Thus  saith 
the  Lord  Jehovah  concerning  the  sons  of  Ammon  and 
their  scorn ;  even  say  thou,  The  sword,  the  sword  is 
drawn ;  to  slay,  to  consume,  is   it  furbished,   so   that  it 

29  glittereth ;  while  they  see  deceit  for  thee,  and  prophecy 
falsehood,  that  it  may  bring  thee  to  the  necks  of  the 
wicked    that  are   slain,  whose   day  cometh  in   the  time 

30  when  iniquity  bringeth  destruction.  Return  the  sword 
into  its  sheath !     In  the  place  where  thou  wast  created, 

31  in  the  land  of  thy  nativity,  I  will  judge  thee,  and  I  will 
pour  upon  thee  my  indignation,  I  will  blow  upon  thee  in 
the  fire   of  my  wrath,   and  deliver  thee  into  the  hands 

32  of  brutal  men,  skilful  to  destroy.  Thou  shalt  be  fuel  for 
the  fire ;  thy  blood  shall  be  in  the  midst  of  the  land  ; 
men  shall  no  more  remember  thee.  I,  Jehovah,  have 
spoken  it. 


XVI. 

Sins  and  punishment  of  Jerusalem.  —  Ch.  XXII. 

1,  2    And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying :  Punish, 
punish,  son  of  man,  the  city  of  blood,  and  show  her  all 

3  her  abominations,  and  say.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah : 
O  city  that  sheddest  blood  in  the  midst  of  thee,  that  thy 
time    may   come,   and    makest    idols   to   defile   thyself! 

4  Through  the  blood  which  thou   sheddest  thou  bringest 


196  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XXII 

guilt  upon  thyself,  and  through  the  idols  which  thou  mak- 
est  thou  pollutest  thyself,  and  thou  causest  thy  days  to 
draw  near,  and  comest  to  thy  years.  Therefore  do  I  make 
thee  a  reproach  to  the  nations,  and  a  derision  to  all  coun- 

5  tries.  Tiiose  that  are  near,  and  those  that  are  far  from 
thee,  shall  mock  thee  as  infamous,  full  of  confusion. 

6  Behold  the  princes  of  Israel  are  engaged   every   one 

7  according  to  his  strength  within  thee  to  shed  blood.  In 
thee  they  set  light  by  father  and  mother;  in  thee  are 
they  guilty  of  oppression  to  the  stranger ;  in  thee  do  they 

8  oppress  the   fatherless  and  the  widow.     Thou   hast  de- 

9  spised  my  holy  things,  and  profaned  my  sabbatlis.  In 
thee  are  men  who  carry  tales,  that  they  may  shed  blood  ; 
in  thee  do  they  eat  upon  the  mountains ;   in  the  midst  of 

10  thee  do  they  commit  lewdness.  In  thee  doth  the  son  un- 
cover the  father's  nakedness ;    in  thee  do  they  lie  with  a 

11  woman  in  her  uncleanness.  And  one  committeth  abomi- 
nation with  his  neighbor's  wife  ;  and  another,  with  incestu- 
ous lewdness,  defileth  his  daughter-in-law ;  and   in  thee 

12  another  lieth  with  his  sister,  his  father's  daughter.  In 
thee  do  they  take  a  reward  to  shed  blood.  Thou  takest 
usury  and  increase,  and  thou  hast  enriched  thyself  from 
thy  neighbor  by  extortion,  and  hast  forgotten  me,  saith 

13  the  Lord  Jehovah.  Therefore,  behold,  I  have  smitten 
my  hands  together  at  thy  dishonest  gain  which  thou  hast 

14  made,  and  at  the  blood  which  hath  been  shed  in  the  midst 
of  thee.  Can  thy  heart  endure,  or  can  thy  hands  be  strong, 
in  the  day  when  I  shall  deal  with  thee  ?  I,  Jehovah,  have 

15  spoken  it,  and  will  do  it.  I  will  scatter  thee  among  the 
nations,  and  disperse  thee  in  the  countries,  and  will  con- 

16  sume  thine  impurity  out  of  thee ;  and  thou  shalt  through 
thyself  be  profaned  before  the  eyes  of  the  nations,  and 
thou  shalt  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 

17, 18  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying :  Son 
of  man,  the  house  of  Israel  is  become  dross  to  me  ;  all  of 
them  are  brass,  and  tin,  and  iron,  and  lead,  in  the  midst  of 

19  the  furnace  ;  they  are  the  dross  of  silver.  Therefore  thus 
saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  Because  ye  are  all  of  you  be- 
come dross,  therefore,  behold,  I  will  gather  you  into  the 

20  midst  of  Jerusalem.     As  men  gather  silver,  and  brass,  and 


CH.  XXII.]  EZEKIEL.  197 

iron,  and  lead,  and  tin,  into  the  midst  of  the  furnace,  to 
blow  tJie  fire  upon  it,  to  melt  it,  so  will  I  gather  you  in 
mj  anger  and  in  my  fury,  and  I  will  place  you  there  and 

21  melt  you.  Yea,  I  will  gather  you,  and  blow  upon  you 
with  the  fire  of  my  wrath,  and  ye  shall  be  melted  in  the 

22  midst  thereof.  As  silver  is  melted  in  the  midst  of  the 
furnace,  so  shall  ye  be  melted  in  the  midst  thereof;  and 
ye  shall  know  that  I,  Jehovah,  have  poured  out  my  fury 
upon  you. 

23,  24  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying  :  Son 
of  man,  say  to  her.  Thou  art  a  land  that  is  not  cleansed, 

25  nor  rained  upon  in  the  day  of  indignation.  There  is 
a  conspiracy  of  her  prophets  in  the  midst  of  her ;  like  a 
roaring  lion  tearing  the  prey,  they  devour  the  lives  of 
men ;    they    take    possession    of  treasures,  and    precious 

26  things,  and  make  many  widows  in  the  midst  of  her.  Her 
priests  violate  my  law,  and  profane  my  holy  things. 
They  make  no  distinction  between  the  holy  and  profane, 
and  show  not  the  difference  between  the  clean  and  the 
unclean  ;  and  they  hide  their  eyes  from  my  sabbaths,  and 

27  I  am  profaned  among  them.  Her  princes  in  the  midst  of 
her  are  like  wolves  tearing  the  prey.     They  shed  blood, 

28  they  destroy  life,  that  they  may  get  gain.  Her  prophets 
daub  for  them  with  untempered  mortar,  seeing  falsehood, 
and  divining  to  them,  saying,  "  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Je- 

29  hovah,"  when  Jehovah  hath  not  spoken.  The  people  of 
the  land  are  guilty  of  oppression,  and  practise  robbery, 
and  distress  the  poor  and  needy ;  yea,  they  oppress  the 

30  stranger,  and  have  no  justice.  I  have  sought  for  a  man 
among  them  that  should  make  a  wall,  and  stand  in  the 
gap  before  me  for  the  land,  that  I  might  not  destroy  it ; 

31  but  I  found  none.  Therefore  will  I  pour  out  my  indigna- 
tion upon  them  ;  I  will  consume  them  with  the  fire  of  my 
wrath ;  I  will  bring  their  way  upon  their  heads,  saith  the 
Lord  Jehovah. 


198  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XXIII. 


XYII. 

The  wickedness  and  impiety  of  Judaea  and  Samaria  set  forth  under  tho 
image  of  two  adulterous  women.     Their  punishment.  —  Ch.  XXlll. 

1, 2  The  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me  again,  saying :  Son 
of  man,  there  were  two  women,  daughters  of  one  mother; 

3  and  they  committed  fornication  in  Egypt ;  in  their  youth 
they  committed  fornication.  There  they  allowed  their 
breasts  to  be  pressed,  and  their  virgin  teats  to  be  handled. 

4  Their  names  were  Aholah,  the  elder,  and  Aholibah,  her 
sister;  and  they  became  mine,  and  bore  sons  and  daugh- 
ters ;  as  to  their  names,  moreover,  Aholah  is  Samaria, 
and  Aholibah,  Jerusalem. 

6  And  Aholah  played  the  harlot  when  she  was  mine ; 
and  she  doted  on  her  lovers,  on  the  Assyrians,  her  neigh- 

6  bors,  who  were  clothed  with  blue,  captains  and  rulers,  all 
of  them  desirable  young  men,  horsemen,  riding  on  horses. 

7  Thus  she  committed  fornication  with  them,  with  all  the 
choice  young  men  of  Assyria,  and  with  all  on  whom  she 

8  doted  ;  with  all  their  idols  she  defiled  herself.  Neither 
forsook  she  her  whoredoms  brought  from  Egypt;  for  they 
lay  with  her  in  her  youth,  and  handled  the  breasts  of  her 

9  virginity,  and  poured  their  fornication  upon  her.  Where- 
fore I  delivered  her  into  the  hand  of  her  lovers,  into  the 

10  hand  of  the  Assyrians,  upon  whom  she  doted.  These  un- 
covered her  nakedness  ;  they  took  her  sons  and  her  daugh- 
ters, and  slew  her  with  the  sword ;  and  she  became  fa- 
mous among  women,  when  they  had  executed  judgment 
upon  her. 

11  And  her  sister,  Aholibah,  saw  this,  but  she  was  more 
corrupt  in  her  inordinate  love  than  she,  and  in  her  whore- 

12  doms  more  than  her  sister  in  her  whoredoms.  She  doted 
upon  the  Assyrians,  her  neighbors,  prefects  and  rulers 
clothed  most  gorgeously,  horsemen  riding  upon  horses,  all 

13  of  them  desirable  young  men.     Then  1  saw  that  she  was 

14  defiled ;  that  they  both  took  one  way.  But  she  added  to 
her  whoredoms ;  for  she  saw  men  portrayed  upon  the 
wall,    images    of   Chaldreans    portrayed    with    vermilion, 

15  girded  w^ith  girdles  U})on  their  loins,  and  having  long 
mitres  hanging  down  from  their  heads,  in  their  appear- 


en    XXIII.]  EZEKIEL.  199 

ance  all  of  them  princes,  after  the  manner  of  the  sons  of 

16  Babylon,  of  Clialda^a,  the  land  of  their  nativitj^ ;  and  as 
soon  as  she  cast  her  eyes  upon  them,  she  doted  on  them, 

17  and  sent  messengers  to  them  into  Clialda^a.  And  the 
sons  of  Babylon  came  to  her  into  the  bed  of  love,  and 
*hey  defiled -her  with  their  whoredoms,  and  she  was  pol- 
luted with  them.     She  then  became  alienated  from  them. 

18  So  she  discovered  her  fornications,  and  discovered  her 
nakedness.     Then  my  mind  was  alienated  from  her,  as  it 

19  had  been  alienated  from  her  sister.  For  she  multiplied 
her  whoredoms  in  calling  to  remembrance  the  days  of 
her  youth,  wherein  she  played  the  harlot  in  the  land  of 

20  Egypt ;  for  she  doted  on  their  paramours,  whose  members 
were  as  the  members  of  asses,  and  whose  issue  was  as  the 

21  issue  of  horses.  Thus  thou  calledst  to  remembrance  tha 
lewdness  of  thy  youth,  when  thy  teats  were  handled  by 
the  Egyptians,  on  account  of  the  paps  of  tliy  youth. 

22  Therefore,  O  Aholibah,  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovali : 
Behold,  I  will  raise  up  against  thee  thy  lovers,  from 
whom  thou  art  alienated,  and  I  will  bring  them  against 

23  thee  on  every  side,  the  Babylonians  and  all  the  Chaldas- 
ans,  prefects,  rich  men,  and  nobles,  and  all  the  Assyi-ians 
with  them,  all  of  them  desirable  young  men,  prefects  and 
rulers,  captains  and  men  of  renown,  all  of  them  riding 

24  upon  horses.  And  they  shall  come  against  thee  with 
arms,  chariots  and  wheels,  and  with  hosts  of  people ;  with 
buckler  and  shield  and  helmet  shall  they  set  themselves 
against  tliee  on  every  side.  And  I  will  commit  to  them 
judgment,  and  they  shall  punish  thee  according  to  their 

25  punishments.  And  I  will  set  my  jealousy  against  thee, 
and  they  shall  deal  with  thee  in  fury ;  they  shall  take 
away  thy  nose  and  thine  ears,  and  thy  posterity  shall  fall 
by  the  sword.  They  shall  take  away  thy  sons  and  thy 
daughters,  and  thy  posterity  shall  be  consumed  with  fire. 

26  They  shall  also  strip  thee  of  thy  garments,  and  take  away 

27  thy  fair  jewels.  Thus  will  I  make  thy  lewdness  to  cease 
from  thee,  and  thy  whoredom  brought  from  the  land  of 
Egypt,  so  that  thou  shalt  not  lift  thine  eyes  to  them,  nor 

28  remember  Egypt  any  more.  For  thus  saith  the  Lord 
Jehovah :  Behold,  I  will  deliver  thee  into  the  hand  of 
them  whom   thou  hatest,  into   the  hand    of  them  from 

29  whom  thou  art  alienated.     And  they  shall  deal  with  thee 


200  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  xxui. 

in  hatred,  and  take  away  all  the  fruits  of  tlij  labor  from 
thee,  and  shall  leave  thee  naked  and  bare ;  and  thy 
nakedness  shall  be  uncovered,  with  which  thou  hast 
committed  lewdness  and  fornication  and  foul  whoredom. 

30  These  things  will  I  do  to  thee,  because  thou  hast  commit- 
ted  whoredom  with  the  nations,  and  hast  been  polluted 

31  with  their  idols.  Thou  hast  walked  in  the  way  of  thy 
sister,  therefore  will  I  give  her  cup  into  thy  hand. 

32  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  :  Thou  shalt  drink  of  thy 
sister's  cup,  which  is  deep  and  large  ;  it  shall  make  thee 
a  laughing-stock  and  a  derision,  for  it  containeth  much. 

33  Thou  shalt  be  filled  with  drunkenness  and  soitow.  A 
cup  of  astonishment  and  amazement  is  the  cup  of  thy 

34  sister  Samaria.  Thou  shalt  even  drink  it  and  suck  it  out, 
and  lick  the  sherds,  and  thou  shalt  tear  thy  breasts.     For 

35  I  have  spoken  it,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah.  Therefore 
thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  Because  thou  hast  for- 
gotten me,  and  cast  me  behind  thy  back,  therefore  bear 
thou  thy  lewdness  and  thy  whoredoms. 

36  Moreover,  Jehovah  said  to  me.  Son  of  man,  punish 
Ahohih  and  Aholibah ;  yea,  declare  to  them  their  abomi- 

37  tions;  that  they  have  committed  adultery,  and  blood  is 
upon  their  hands,  and  that  with  their  idols  they  have 
committed  adultery,  and  have  also  caused  their  sons, 
whom  they  bore  to  me,  to  pass  through  the  fire  to  thera 

38  for  ftx)d.  This  also  have  they  done  to  me  :  they  liave 
defiled  my  sanctuary  in  the  same  day,  and  have  profaned 

39  my  sabbaths.  For  when  they  had  slain  their  cliildren  to 
their  idols,  then  they  came  into  my  sanctuary  the  same 
day  to  profane   it ;  behold,  thus  have  they  done  in  my 

40  house.  Yea,  ye  sent  for  men  to  come  from  afar ;  mes- 
sengei's  were  sent  to  them,  and  behold,  they  came  ;  for 
them  didst  thou  wash  thyself,  and  paint  thine  eyes,  and 

41  deck  thyself  with  ornaments.  And  thou  didst  seat  thy- 
self upon  a  stately  bed  before  which  a  table  was  prepared, 

42  and  thereon  didst  thou  set  my  incense  and  my  oil.  Also 
the  voice  of  a  multitude  at  ease  was  with  her ;  and 
together  with  men  from  the  common  multitude  were 
brought  deep-drinkers  from  the  desert,  who  put  bracelets 
upon  their  hands,  and  beautiful  crowns  upon  their  heads. 

43  Then  said  I  concerning  her  that  was  worn  out  with 


CH.  xxiv.J  EZEKIEL.  201 

adulteries,  Will  they  now  commit  whoredoms  with  her 

44  even  with  her  ?  They  went  in  to  her,  as  men  go  to  a 
harlot ;  so  went  they  in  to  Aholah  and  to  Aholibah,  the 

45  lewd  women.  But  righteous  men  shall  judge  them,  as 
adulteresses  are  judged,  and  as  women  that  shed  blood  are 
judged  ;  for  they  are  adulteresses,  and  blood  is  upon  their 

46  hands.  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  :  I  will  bring 
a  great  company  against  them,  and  will  give  them  up  to 

47  be  harassed  and  spoiled,  and  the  company  shall  stone 
them  with  stones,  and  cut  them  in  pieces  with  their 
swords;   they  shall  slay  their  sons  and  their  daughters, 

48  and  burn  their  houses  with  fire.  Thus  will  I  cause  lewd- 
ness to  cease  out  of  the  land,  that  all  women  may  take 

49  warning,  and  not  follow  them  in  their  lewdness.  And 
they  shall  recompense  your  lewdness  upon  you,  and  ye 
shall  bear  the  sins  of  your  idols  ;  that  ye  may  know  that 
I  am  the  Lord  Jehovah. 


XVIII. 

The  destruction  of  Jerusalem  threatened  parabolically.  —  Ch.  XXIV. 

1  ^  Moreover,  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me  in  the 
ninth  year,  in  the  tenth  month,  in  the  tenth  day  of  the 

2  month,  and  said ;  Son  of  man,  write  the  name  of  the  day, 
even  of  this  same  day.     The  king  of  Babylon  draweth 

3  near  to  Jerusalem  this  same  day.  Utter  a  parable  to  the 
rebellious  house,  and  say  to  them,  Thus  saith  the  Lord 
Jehovah :    Set  on  a  caldron,  set  it  on,  and  also  pour  water 

4  into  it.  Gather  the  pieces  thereof  into  it,  even  every  good 
piece,  the  thigh  and  the  shoulder ;  fill  it  with  the  choice 

5  bones.  Take  the  choice  of  the  Hock,  and  make  under  it 
a  pile  for  the  bones,  and  make  it  boil  well,  that  the  bones 
therein  may  be  seethed. 

6  Wherefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  Woe  to  the 
city  of  blood,  to  the  caldron  in  which  is  rust,  and  whose 
rust  goeth  not  out  of  it !  bring  it  out  piece  by  piece  ;  let 

7  no  lot  fall  upon  it.  For  blood  is  in  the  midst  of  her ; 
upon  the  bare  rock  hath  she  shed  it ;  she  poured  it  not 


202  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XXIV. 

8  upon  the  ground,  that  it  might  be  covered  with  dust.  To 
cause  fury  and  to  take  vengeance,  I  have  set  the  blood 
shed  by  her  upon  the  bare  rock,  that  it  might  not  be  cov- 

9  ered.  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  :  Woe  to 
the  city  of  blood !     Now  will   I  make  the   pile  for  jQre 

10  great.     Heap  on  wood,  kindle  the  fire,  cook  the  flesh,  put 

11  in  spices,  and  let  the  bones  be  burned.  Then  set  it  empty 
upon  the  coals,  that  its  brass  may  be  hot  and  may  burn, 
and  that  its  impurity  may  be  dissolved  in  it,  and  its  rust 

12  be  consumed.  It  hath  wearied  me  with  labors,  yet  its 
thick  rust  goeth  not  from  it ;  its  rust  remaineth  in   the 

13  midst  of  the  fire.  In  thy  filthiness  is  gross  wickedness, 
because,  when  I  would  have  cleansed  thee,  thou  wouldst 
not  be  cleansed.  Thou  shalt  not  be  cleansed  from  thy 
filthiness  any  more,  till  I  have  quieted  my  fury  toward 

14  thee.  I,  Jehovah,  have  spoken  it;  it  shall  come  to  pass, 
and  I  will  do  it.  I  will  not  go  back,  neither  will  I  spare, 
neither  will  I  repent.  According  to  thy  ways  and  ac- 
cording to  thy  doings  shall  they  judge  thee,  saith  the 
Lord  Jehovah. 

15,  16  Also  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying :  Son 
of  man,  behold,  I  take  away  from  thee  the  desire  of  thine 
eyes  with  one  blow ;  yet  thou  shalt  not  mourn,  nor  weep, 

17  nor  shall  thy  tears  run  down.  Sigh  thou  in  silence,  make 
no  mourning  for  the  dead ;  bind  thy  head-dress  upon 
thee,  and  thy  shoes  on  thy  feet;  cover  not  thy  lip.-,  and 
eat  not  the  bread  of  wretclu'd  men. 

18  So  I  sj)ake  to  the  people  in  the  morning,  and  my  wife 
died  in  the  evening ;  and  I  did  in  the  morning  as  I  was 

•19  commanded.  And  the  peoi)le  said  to  me,  Wilt  thou  not 
tell  us  what  those  things  which  thou  doest  denote  to  us? 

20  Then  I  answered  them  :  The  word  of  Jehovah  came  to 

21  me  and  said :  Say  to  the  house  of  Israel,  Thus  saith  the 
Lord  Jehovah :  Behold,  I  will  profane  my  sanctuary,  the 
pride  of  your  confidence,  the  desire  of  your  eyes,  and  the 
longing  of  your  souls ;  and  your  sons  and  daughters  that 

22  are  left  to  you  shall  fall  by  the  sword.  And  ye  shall  do 
as  I  have  done ;  ye  shall  not  cover  j^our  mouths,  nor  eat 

23  the  bread  of  wretched  men ;  and  your  head-dresses  shall 
be  upon  your  heads,  and  your  shoes  upon  your  feet ;  ye 
shall  not  mourn  nor  weep ;  but  ye  shall  pine  away  lor 


CH.  XXV.]  EZEKIEL.  203 

24  your  iniquities,  and  moan  one  to  auotlier.  Thus  E^zekiel 
shall  be  to  you  a  si<2;n;  accordiug  to  all  that  he  hath  done 
shall  ye  do,  wlien  this  cometli ;  and  ye  shall  know  that  1 
am  the  Lord  Jehovah. 

£5  And  thou,  son  of  man,  behold,  in  the  day  when  I  take 
from  them  their  strength,  the  joy  of  their  glory,  the  desire 
of  their  eyes,  and  the  longing  of  their  souls,  their  sons  and 

26  their  daughters,  in   that  day   shall   one   that  is  escaped 

27  come  to  thee,  to  cause  thee  to  hear  it  with  thine  ears.  In 
that  day  shall  thy  mouth  be  opened  to  him  that  is  es- 
caped, and  thou  shalt  speak,  and  be  no  more  dumb  ;  and 
thou  shalt  be  a  sign  to  them,  and  they  shall  know  that  I 
am  Jehovah, 


XIX. 

Against  the  Ammonites,  Moabites,  Edomites,  and  Philistines.  — 
Ch.  XXV. 

I,  2  The  word  of  Jehovah  came  again  to  me,  saying:  Son 
of  man,  set  thy  face  against  the  Ammonites,  and  prophesy 

3  against  them ;  and  say  to  the  Ammonites,  Hear  the  word 
of  the  Lord  Jehovah !  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah : 
Because  thou  saidst,  "  Aha  !  "  against  my  sanctuary  when 
it  was  profaned,  and  against  the  land  of  Israel  when  it 
was  desolate,  and  against  the  house  of  Judah  when  they 

4  went  into  captivity,  therefore,  behold,  I  will  deliver  thee 
to  the  sons  of  the  Ea^t  for  a  possession,  and  they  shall  set 
their  folds  in  thee,  and  make  their  dwellings  in  thee  ;  they 

5  shall  eat  thy  fruit,  and  they  shall  drink  thy  milk.  And  I 
will  make  Kabbah  a  stable  for  camels,  and  the  land  of  the 
Ammonites  a  couching-place  for  flocks  ;  and  ye  shall  know 

S  that  I  am  Jehovah.  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah : 
Because  thou  hast  clapped  thy  hands,  and  stamped  with 
thy  feet,  and  rejoiced  with  all  thy  despite  from  the  heart, 

7  against  the  land  of  Israel,  therefore,  behold,  I  will  stretch 
out  my  hand  upon  thee,  and  will  deliver  thee  for  a  spoil 
to  the  nations ;  I  will  cut  thee  off  from  the  nations,  and 
cause  thee  to  perish  from  the  countries ;  I  will  destroy 
thee;  and  thou  shalt  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 


204  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XXVI 

8  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  :  Because  Moab  and  Seip 
say,  "  Behold,  the  house  of  Judah  is  like  all  the  nations," 

9  therefore,  behold,  I  will  open  the  side  of  Moab  from  his 
cities,  which  are  on  his  borders,  the  glory  of  the  country, 

10  Beth-jeshimoth,  Baal-meon,  and  Kiriathaim.  To  the 
sons  of  the  East  will  I  give  it  for  a  possession,  together 
with  the  sons  of  Amnion,  that  the  sous  of  Amnion  may 

11  be  no  more  remembered  among  the  nations ;  and  on  Mo- 
ab will  I  execute  judgments,  and  they  shall  know  that  I 
am  Jehovah. 

12  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  Because  Edom  hath 
dealt  against  the  house  of  Judah  by  taking  vengeance,  and 
hath  greatly  offended,  and  revenged  himself  upon  them, 

13  therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  :  I  will  stretch 
out  my  hand  upon  Edom,  and  will  cut  off  from  it  man 
and  beast ;  and  I  will  maT^e  it  desolate  from  Teman ;  and 

14  unto  Dedan  shall  they  fall  by  tlie  sword.  And  I  will  lay 
my  vengeance  upon  Edom  by  the  hand  of  my  people  Is- 
rael ;  and  they  shall  deal  with  Edom  according  to  mine 
anger,  and  according  to  my  fury ;  and  they  shall  know 
my  vengeance,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 

15  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  :  Because  the  Philistinea 
have  dealt  with  revenge,  and  have  taken  vengeance,  with 
a  despiteful  heart,  even  to  destruction,  from  the  old  ha- 

16  tred ;  therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah:  Behold,  I 
will  stretch  out  my  hand  upon  the  Philistines,  and  I  will 
cut  off  the  Cherethites,  and  destroy  the  remnant  upon  the 

17  sea-coasts.  And  I  will  execute  great  vengeance  upon 
them  with  furious  rebukes ;  and  they  shall  know  that  I 
am  Jehovah  when  I  lay  my  vengeance  upon  them. 


XX. 

Prophecy  against  Tyre.  —  Ch.  XXM.  —  XXVTQ.  19. 

1  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  eleventh  year,  on  the  first 
day  of  the  month,  that  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me, 

2  saying :  Son  of  man,  because  T\  re  hath  said  against  Je- 


CH.  XXVI .]  EZEKIEL. 


205 


rusalem,  "  Aha !  she  is  broken  that  was  the  gate  of  the 
nations  ;  now  is  all  transferred  to  me  ;  I  shall  be  full,  now 

3  that  she  is  desolate ! "  therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Je- 
hovah:  Behold,  I  am  against  thee,  O  Tyre,  and  I  will 
cause  many  nations  to  come  up  against  thee,  as  the  sea 

4  causeth  his  waves  to  come  up.  And  they  shall  destroy 
the  walls  of  Tyre,  and  break  down  her  towers  ;  and  I  will 
scrape  off  her  earth  from  her,  and  make  her  like  a  naked 

5  rock.  She  shall  be  a  place  for  the  spreading  of  nets  in 
the  midst  of  the  sea  ;  for  I  have  spoken  it,  saith  the  Lord 
Jehovah.     And  she  shall  be  to  the  nations  for  a  spoil; 

6  and  her  daughters  that  are  upon  the  land  shall  be  slain 
by  the  sword ;  and  they  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 

7  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  Behold,  I  will  bring 
against  Tyre  Nebuchadnezzar,  the  king  of  Babylon,  a  king 
of  kings  from  the  North,  with  horses,  and  with  chariots, 

8  and  with  horsemen,  and  a  vast  multitude  of  people.  Thy 
daughters  upon  the  land  shall  he  slay  with  the  sword; 
and  he  shall  set  a  tower  against  thee,  and  cast  up  a 
mound  against  thee,  and  lift  up  the  buckler  against  thee  ; 

9  and  his  battering-rams  shall  be  set  against  thy  walls,  and 

10  thy  towers  shall  he  break  down  with  axes.  By  reason 
of  the  great  number  of  his  horses,  their  dust  shall  cover 
thee ;  thy  walls  shall  shake  at  the  noise  of  the  horsemen, 
and  of  the  wheels,  and  of  the  chariots,  when  he  entereth 
into  thy  gates,  as  men  enter  into  a  city  that  is  broken 

11  through.  With  the  hoofs  of  his  horses  shall  he  tread  down 
all  tliy  streets ;  thy  people  he  shall  slay  with  the  sword ; 
and  the  idols  of  thy  strength   shall   fall  to  the   ground. 

12  And  they  shall  make  a  spoil  of  thy  riches,  and  make  a 
prey  of  thy  merchandise  ;  and  they  shall  break  down  thy 
walls,  and  destroy  thy  beautiful  houses  ;  and  thy  stones 
and  thy  timber  and  thine  earth  shall  they  lay  in  the  midst 

13  of  the  waters.  And  I  will  cause  the  noise  of  thy  songs  to 
cease,  and  the  sound  of  thy  harps  shall  be  no  more  heard. 

14  And  I  will  make  thee  like  a  naked  rock ;  thou  shalt  be  a 
place  to  spread  nets  upon  ;  thou  shalt  be  built  no  more  ; 
for  I,  Jehovah,  have  spoken  it,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 

15  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  to  Tyre  :  Behold,  the 
isles  shall  shake  at  the  sound  of  thy  fall,  at  the  groaning 
of  the  wounded,  and  at  the  slaughter  which  is  made  in 

16  the  midst  of  thee.     And  all  the  princes  of  the  sea  shall 


206  EZEKIEL.  [en   xxvii. 

come  down  from  their  thrones,  and  lay  aside  their  man- 
tles, and  put  off  their  embroidered  garments.  They  shall 
clotlie  themselves  with  trembling,  and  sit  on  the  ground, 
and  tremble  every  moment,  and  be  astonished  at  thee. 

17  And  they  shall  utter  a  lamentation  over  thee,  and  say  to 
thee,  "  How  art  thou  destroyed,  thou  that  wast  peopled 
from  the  seas,  the  renowned  city,  that  wast  mighty  upon 
the  sea,  thou  and  thine  inhabitants,  causing  terror  to  all 

18  that  dwelt  near  thee ! "  Now  shall  the  isles  tremble  in 
the  day  of  thy  fall ;  yea,  the  isles  that  are  in  the  sea  shall 
quake  at  thy  departure. 

19  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  :  Wlien  I  shall  make 
thee  a  desolate  city,  like  the  cities  tliat  are  not  inhabited, 
when  I  shall  bring  up  the  dee|)  upon  thee,  and  great  wa- 

20  ters  shall  cover  thee,  I  will  bring  tliee  down  to  them  that 
have  gone  down  to  the  ))it,  to  the  people  of  old  time,  and 
I  will  cause  thee  to  dwell  in  tiie  lower  parts  of  the  earth, 
amid  the  ruins  of  ancient  times,  with  them  that  have  gone 
down  to  the  pit,  that  thou  be  no  more  inhabited ;  but  I 

21  will  set  glory  in  the  land  of  the  living.  I  will  make  thee 
a  desolation,  and  thou  shalt  be  no  more ;  though  thou  be 
sought  for,  thou  shalt  be  found  no  more  forever,  saith  the 
Lord  Jehovah. 

1,  2      The  word  of  Jehovah  came  again  to  me,  saying :  Son 

3  of  man,  take  up  a  lamentation  over  Tyre,  and  say  to  Tyre, 
O  thou  that  didst  dwell  at  the  entrance  of  the  sea,  the 
merchant  of  the  nations  to  many  coasts !  thus  saith  the 
Lord  Jehovah  :  O  Tyre,  thou  hast  said,  ''  I  am  perfect  in 

4  beauty."     Thy  borders  are  in  the  midst  of  the  seas ;  thy 

5  builders  have  perfected  thy  beauty.  They  made  all  thy 
ship-boards  of  C3^presses  of  Senir  ;  they  took  cedars  from 

6  Lebanon  to  make  masts  for  thee.  Of  oaks  of  Bashan 
they  made  thine  oars ;  thy  benches  they  made  of  ivory  in- 

7  laid  in  cedar  from  the  coasts  of  the  Chitta^ans.  Fine  linen 
with  broidered  work  from  Egypt  was  that  which  thou 
didst  spread  forth  to  be  thy  sail;  blue  and  purple  from 

8  the  coasts  of  Elisha  were  thy  covering.  The  iuliabitauts 
of  Zidon  and  Arvad  were  thy  rowers ;  thy  wise  men,  O 

9  Tyre,  that  were  in  thee,  were  thy  pilots.  The  ancients 
of  Gebal  and  the  skilful  men  theieof  were  in  thee,  thy 
calkers  ;  all  the  ships  of  the  sea,  with  their  mariners,  were 


CH.  xxvii.J  EZEKIEL.  207 

10  in  thee,  to  traffic  in  thy  merchandise.  Persians,  and  Lyd- 
ians,  and  Lybians  were  in  thine  army,  thy  men  of  war ; 
they  hung  up  tlie  shield  and  helmet  in  thee ;  they  set  forth 

11  thy  glory.  The  men  of  Arvad  and  thine  own  army  were 
upon  thy  walls  round  about,  and  brave  warriors  were  in 
thy  towers  ;  they  hung  their  shields  upon  thy  walls  round 
about ;  they  made  thy  beauty  perfect. 

12  Tarshish  trafficked  with  thee  on  account  of  the  abun- 
dance of  all  kinds  of  goods ;  with  silver,  iron,  tin,  and  lead 

13  they  traded  in  thy  fairs.  Javan,  Tubal,  and  Meshech 
trafficked  with  thee ;  the  persons  of  men  and  vessels  of 

14  brass  they  sold  in  thy  market.  They  of  the  house  of  To- 
garraah  traded  in  thy  fairs  with  horses  and  horsemen  and 

15  mules.  The  men  of  Dedan  trafficked  with  thee;  many 
islands  were  at  hand  to  thee  for  trade  ;  they  brought  thee, 

16  for  payment,  horns  of  ivory,  and  ebony-wood.  Syria  traf- 
ficked with  thee  by  reason  of  the  multitude  of  the  wares 
of  thy  making ;  with  carbuncles,  purple  and  embroidered 
work,  and  fine  linen,  and  corals,  and  rubies,  they  traded  in 

17  thy  fairs.  Judah  and  the  land  of  Israel  trafficked  with 
thee ;  with  wheat  of  Minnith,  and  pastry,  and  syrup,  and 

18  oil,  and  balm  they  traded  in  thy  market.  Damascus  traf- 
ficked with  thee  on  account  of  the  multitude  of  the  wares 
of  thy  making,  on  account  of  the  abundance  of  all  kinds 

19  of  goods,  in  the  wine  of  Helbon,  and  in  white  wool.  Ve- 
dan  and  Javan  brought  thread  to  thy  market ;  wrought 

20  iron,  cassia,  and  sweet  reed  were   in   thy  fairs.     Dedan 

21  brought  cloth  for  riding,  in  traffic  with  thee.  Arabia  and 
all  the  princes  of  Kedar  were  at  hand  to  traffic  with  thee  ; 
they   traded   with   thee  in  lambs    and    rams    and    goats. 

22  The  merchants  of  Sheba  and  Raamah  trafficked  with  thee 
wdth  all  kinds  of  precious  spices,  and  with  all  kinds  of  pre- 

23  cious  stones,  and  gold.     Haran,  and  Canneh,  and  Eden, 

24  the  merchants  of  Sheba,  Assyria,  and  Chilmad,  trafficked 
with  thee  in  splendid  apparel,  in  mantles  of  blue  and  em- 
broidered work,  in  chests  of  damask  bound  with  cords  and 

25  made  of  cedar,  in  thy  market.  The  ships  of  Tarshish 
were  the  caravans  for  thy  traffic ;  and  thou  wast  replen- 
ished and  made  very  glorious  in  the  midst  of  the  seas. 

26  Thy  rowers  have  brought  thee  into  great  waters  :  the 

27  east  wind  hath  broken  thee  in  the  midst  of  the  seas.    Thj 


208  EZEKIEL.  [cu.  XXVIII. 

riches,  and  thy  fairs,  and  thy  merchandise,  thy  mariners, 
and  thy  pilots,  thy  calkers,  and  the  traders  in  thy  mer- 
chandise, and  all  thy  men  of  war  within  thee,  and  all  thy 
multitude  that  is  in  the  midst  of  thee,  shall  fall  into  the 

28  midst  of  the  seas  in  the  day  of  thy  ruin.  At  the  sound 
of  the  cry  of  thy  pilots  the  pastures  around  thee  shall 

29  shake.  And  all  that  handle  the  oar,  the  mariners,  and  all 
the  pilots  of  the   sea,  shall  come  down  from  their  ships ; 

30  they  shall  stand  upon  the  land,  and  shall  cause  their  voice 
to  be  heard  for  thee,  and  shall  cry  bitterly,  and  shall  cast 

31  dust  upon  their  heads,  and  roll  themselves  in  ashes.  And 
they  shall  make  themselves  utterly  bald  for  thee,  and  gird 
themselves  with  sackcloth ;  and  they  shall  weep  for  tliee 

32  with  bitterness  of  heart  and  bitter  wailing.  And  in  their 
wailing  they  shall  take  up  for  thee  a  lamentation,  and 
shall  lament  over  thee,  saying:  "  What  city  is  like  Tyre, 

33  like  the  Destroyed  in  the  midst  of  the  sea  ?  When  thy 
wares  went  forth  from  the  seas,  thou  didst  satisfy  many 
nations ;  thou  didst  enrich  the  kings  of  the  earth  with  the 

34  abundance  of  thy  riches  and  thy  merchandise.  Now  thosi 
art  broken  by  tlii;  seas  in  the  depth  of  the  waters,  and  thy 
merchandise  and  all  thy  multitude  in  the  midst  of  thee  are 

35  fallen.  All  the  inhabitants  of  the  isles  are  astonished  at 
thee,  and  their  kings  shudder;  they  are  troubled  in  their 

36  countenance.  The  merchants  among  the  nations  hiss  at 
thee.  Thou  art  a  desolation,  and  shalt  exist  no  more  for- 
ever." 


1,  2  The  word  of  Jehovah  came  again  to  me,  saying :  Son 
of  man,  say  to  the  prince  of  Tyre,  Thus  saitli  the  Lord 
Jehovah  :  Because  thy  heart  is  lifted  up,  and  thou  hast 
said,  "  I  am  a  god,  I  sit  in  the  seat  of  a  god,  in  the  midst 
of  the  seas  " ;  and  though  thou  art  man,  not  God,  yet  set- 

3  test  thy  heart  as  the  heart  of  a  god,  —  behold,  thou  art 
wiser  than   Daniel  ;  there  is  no  secret  which  can  be  hid- 

4  den  from  thee ;  by  thy  wisdom  and  by  thine  understand 
ing  thou  hast  gotten  thee  riches,  and  hast  gotten  gold  and 

5  silver  in  thy  treasures  ;  by  thy  great  wisdom,  by  thy  traf- 
fic, thou  hast  increased  thy  riches,  and  thy  heart  is  lifted 

6  up  because  of  thy  wealth,  —  therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord 
Jehovah :  Because  thou  settest  thy  heart  as  the  heart  of  a 


OH.  xxviii.]  EZEKIEL 


209 


7  god,  theiefore,  behold,  I  will  brin.ir  upon  tliee  strangers, 
the  terrible  of  the  nations;  and  they  shall  draw  their 
swords  no-ainst  the  beauty  of  thy  wisdom,  and  they  shall 

8  defile  thy  brightness.  Tiiey  shall  bring  thee  down  to  the 
pit,  and  thou  shalt  die  the  death  of  the  slain,  in  the  midst 

9  of  the  seas.  Wilt  thou  yet  say,  "I  am  a  god,"  before  him 
that  slayeth  thee  ?     Thou  shalt  be  man,  and  not  God,  in 

10  the  hand  of  him  that  slayeth  thee.  Thou  shalt  die  the 
death  of  the  uncircumcised,  by  the  hand  of  strangers  ;  for 
I  have  spoken  it,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 

11  Moreover,  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying: 

12  Son  of  man,  take  up  a  lamentation  upon  the  king  of  Tyre, 
and  say  to  him.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  — 

Thou  wast  a  finished  signet, 
Full  of  wisdom  and  perfect  in  beauty  ; 

13  In  Eden,  the  garden  of  God,  thou  didst  dwell ; 
Every  precious  stone  was  thy  covering, 

The  ruby,  the  topaz,  and  the  diamond, 

The  chrysolite,  the  onyx,  and  the  jasper, 

The  sapphire,  the  carbuncle,  and  the  emerald,  and  gold. 

The  workmanship  of  thy  jewel-holes  was  within  thee  ; 

On  the  day  when  thou  wast  born  were  they  prepared. 

14  Thou  wast  an  outspread,  covering  cherub ; 
I  set  thee  upon  the  holy  mountain  of  God ; 
Thou  didst  walk  in  the  midst  of  the  stones  of  fire. 

15  Thou  wast  prosperous  in  thy  ways  from  the  day  that  thou 

wast  born 
Until  iniquity  was  found  in  thee. 

16  Through  the  abundance  of  thy  merchandise  thou  art  full 

of  injustice  ; 
And  thou  hast  sinned  ; 
Therefore  I  will  cast  thee  as  profane  out  of  the  mountain 

of  God, 
And  I  will  destroy  thee,  0  covering  cherub,  from  the 

midst  of  the  stones  of  fire. 

17  Thy  heart  was  lifted  up  because  of  thy  beauty  ; 

Thou  hast  corrupted  thy  wisdom  by  reason  of  thy  splen- 
dor ; 
I  will  cast  thee  to  the  ground  ; 
I  will  give  thee  up  to  kings  to  be  their  gazing-stock- 


210  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XXVIII. 

18  By  the  multitude  of  thine  iniquities,  by  the  unrighteous- 

ness of  thy  traffic, 
Thou  hast  defiled  thy  sanctuaries. 
Therefore  will  I  bring  forth  a  fire  from  the  midst  of  thee, 

which  shall  devour  thee, 
And  I  will  bring  thee  to  ashes  upon  the  earth, 
In  the  sight  of  all  them  that  behold  thee. 

19  All  they  that  know  thee  among  the  nations  shall  be  as- 

tonished at  thee ; 
Thou  art  become  a  desolation,  and  shalt  exist  no  more  for- 
ever. 


Prophecy  against  Sidon.  —  Ch.  XXVIII.  20  -  26. 

20,  21  Again  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying:  Son 
of  man,  set  thy  face  against  Sidon,  and  prophesy  against 

22  her,  and  say,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  Behold,  I 
am  against  thee,  O  Sidon,  and  I  will  be  glorified  in  the 
midst  of  thee,  and  they  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah, 
when  I  execute  judgments  in  her,  and  am  sanctified  in 

23  her.  I  will  send  upon  her  pestilence,  and  blood  into  her 
streets,  and  the  wounded  shall  fall  in  the  midst  of  her  by 
the  sword  which  is  against  her  on  every  side ;  and  they 
shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 

24  And  there  shall  be  no  more  to  the  hou?e  of  Israel  a 
pricking  brier,  or  a  grieving  thorn  of  all  that  are  round 
about  them,  that  despised  them ;  and  they  shall  know 
that  I  am  the  Lord  Jehovah.    • 

25  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  When  I  shall  gather 
the  house  of  Israel  from  the  nations  among  which  they 
are  scattered,  then  shall  I  be  sanctified  through  them  in 
the  sight  of  the  nations,  and  they  shall  dwell  in  the  land 

26  which  I  gave  to  my  servant  Jacob.  They  sliall  dwell 
therein  securely,  and  shall  build  houses,  and  plant  vine- 
yards, yea,  they  shall  dwell  securely  when  I  have  exe- 
cuted judgments  on  all  that  despised  them  round  about ; 
and  they  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah,  their  God. 


CH.  xxll.J  EZEKIEL.  211 

XXI. 

Prophecies  against  Egypt.  —  Ch.  XXIX.  —  XXXII. 

1  In  the  tenth  year,  in  the  tenth  month,  in  the  twelfth 
day  of  the  month,  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  say- 

2  mg:  Son  of  man,  set  thy  face  against  Pharaoh,  the  king 
of  Egypt,   and    prophesy    against   him,   and  against   all 

3  Egypt ;  Speak,  and  say,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah : 
Behold,  I  am  against  thee,  Pharaoh,  king  of  Egypt,  thou 
great  dragon,  that  liest  in  the  midst  of  thy  rivers,  and 
sayest,  "  My  river  is  my  own,  and  I  have  made  it  for  my- 

4  self."  And  I  will  put  hooks  in  thy  jaws,  and  I  will  cause 
the  fish  of  thy  rivers  to  cleave  to  thy  scales,  and  I  will 
draw  thee  forth  from  the  midst  of  th}^  rivers,  and  all  the 

5  fish  of  thy  rivers  which  cleave  to  thy  scales.  And  I  will 
cast  thee  into  the  desert,  thee  and  all  the  fish  of  thy  riv- 
ers ;  thou  shalt  fall  upon  the  open  fields  ;  thou  shalt  not 
be  brought  together,  nor  gathered ;  to  the  beasts  of  the 
field  and  the  birds  of  heaven  I  have  given  thee  for  food. 

6  And  all  the  inhabitants  of  Egypt  shall  know  that  I  am 
Jehovah ;  because  they  have  been  a  staff  of  reed  to  the 

7  house  of  Israel.  When  they  took  hold  of  thee  by  thy 
handle,  thou  didst  break  and  pierce  their  whole  shoulder ; 
and  when  they  leaned  upon  thee,  thou  didst  go  to  pieces, 
and  madest  all  their  loins  to  shake. 

8  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  Behold,  I 
will  bring  a  sword  upon  thee,  and  cut  off  man  and  beast 

9  out  of  thee ;  and  the  land  of  Egypt  shall  be  desolate  and 
waste  ;  and  they  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah,  because 
he  hath  said,  "  The  river  is  mine,  and  I  have  made  it." 

10  Therefore,  behold,  I  am  against  thee,  and  against  thy 
rivers  ;  and  I  will  make  the  land  of  Egypt  utterly  waste 
and  desolate,  from  Migdol  even  to  Syene,  and  to  the  bor- 

11  ders  of  Ethiopia.  There  shall  not  pass  through  it  the 
foot  of  man,  and  the  foot  of  beast  shall  not  pass  through 

12  it,  neither  shall  it  be  inhabited  forty  years.  I  will  make 
the  land  of  Egypt  desolate  amidst  the  lands  that  are  des- 
olate, and  her  cities,  among  the  cities  that  are  laid  waste, 
shall  be  desolate  forty  years ;  and  I  will  scatter  the 
Egyptians  among  the  nations,  and  will  disperse  them 
through  the  countries. 


212  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XXX. 

13  Yet  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  At  the  end  of  forty 
years    will    I   gather    the    Egyptians    from    the    nations 

14  whither  they  are  scattered ;  and  I  will  bring  back  the 
captives  of  Egypt,  and  will  cause  them  to  return  into  the 
land  of  Pathros,  into  the  land  of  their  origin ;  and  they 

15  shall  be  there  a  mean  kingdom  ;  it  shall  be  the  meanest 
of  all  kingdoms  ;  it  shall  no  more  exalt  itself  above  the 
nations ;  for  I  will  diminish  them,  that  they  shall  no  more 

IG  rule  over  the  nations.  And  it  shall  be  no  more  the  confi- 
dence of  the  house  of  Israel,  bringing  to  my  remembrance 
their  iniquity  in  looking  to  them  for  help ;  and  they  shall 
know  that  I  am  the  Lord  Jehovah. 


17  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  twenty-seventh  year,  in  the 
first  month,  on  the  first  day  of  the  month,  that  the  word 

18  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying :  Son  of  man,  Nebuchad- 
nezzar, the  king  of  Babylon,  caused  his  army  to  serve  a 
great  service  against  Tyre ;  every  head  was  made  bald, 
and  every  shoulder  was  peeled  ;  yet  neitlier  he  nor  his 
army  had  wages   from  Tyre  for  the  service   which   he 

19  served  against  it.  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jeho- 
vah: Behold,  I  will  give  the  land  of  Egypt  to  Nebu- 
chadnezzar, the  king  of  Babylon,  and  he  shall  take  her 
multitude,  and  take  her  S{)oil,  and  take  her  plunder ;  and 

20  it  shall  be  wages  for  his  army.  For  his  wages  for  his 
service  I   will  give   him   the   land    of  Egypt;    for  they 

21  wrought  for  me,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah.  In  that  day 
will  I  cause  a  horn  to  grow  forth  to  the  house  of  Israel, 
and  I  will  give  thee  to  open  the  mouth  in  the  midst  of 
them  ;  and  they  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 


1,  2  The  word  of  Jehovah  came  again  to  me,  saying :  Son 
of  man,  prophesy,  and  say,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah ; 

3  Howl  ye,  Alas  !  alas  for  the  day  !  For  the  day  is  near, 
the  day  of  Jehovah  is  near  !     A  day  of  clouds,  the  time 

4  of  the  nations  is  come.  The  sword  shall  come  upon 
Egypt,  and  anguish  shall  be  in  Ethiopia,  when  the  slain 
shall  fall  in  Egypt,  and  they  shall  take  away  her  raulti- 

5  tude,  and  her  foundations  shall  be  destroyed.  Ethioi)ia, 
and  Lybia,  and  Lydia,  and  all  her  auxiliaries,  and  Chub, 


CH.  X3.X.J  EZEKIEL.  213 

and  the  men  of  every  country  that  is  In  league,  shall  fall 

6  with  thera  by  the  sword.  Thus  saith  Jeliovah  :  They 
that  uphold  iSgypt  shall  fixll,  and  the  pride  of  her  power 
shall  come  down  ;  from  Migdol  to  Syene  shall  they  fall 

7  in  her  by  the  sword,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah.  And  they 
shall  be  laid  waste  in  the  midst  of  the  lands  that  are  laid 
waste,  and  her  cities  shall  be  amongst  the  cities  that  are 

8  desolate.  And  they  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah,  when 
I  have  brought  a  fire  into  Egypt,  and  all  her  helpers  shall 

9  be  destroyed.  In  that  day  shall  messengers  go  forth 
from  me  in  ships,  to  make  the  confident  Ethiopians  afraid; 
and  anguish  shall  come  upon  them,  as  in  the  day  of 
Egypt ;  for  behold,  it  cometh  ! 

10  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  T  will  make  the  mul- 
titude of  Egypt  to  cease  by  the  hand  of  Nebuchadnezzai-, 

11  the  king  of  Babylon.  He  and  his  people  with  him,  the 
terrible  of  the  nations,  shall  be  brought  to  make  the  land 
desolate  ;  and  they  shall  draw  their  swords  against  Egypt, 

12  and  fill  the  land  with  the  slain.  And  I  will  make  the 
rivers  dry,  and  I  will  sell  the  land  into  the  hand  of  evil 
men ;  and  I  will  lay  waste  the  land  and  all  that  is  therein, 
by  the  hand  of  strangers ;  I,  Jehovah,  have  spoken  it. 

13  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  :  I  will  destroy  the  idols, 
and  cause  the  images  to  cease  out  of  Noph  ;  and  there 
shall  be  no  more  a  prince  of  the  land  of  Egypt ;  and  I 

14  will  bring  fear  upon  the  land  of  Egypt.  And  I  will  lay 
waste  Pathros,  and  bring  a  fire  upon  Zoan,  and  execute 

15  judgments  upon  No.  And  I  will  pour  out  my  fury  upon 
Sin,  the  strength  of  Egypt,  and  I  will  cut  off  the  multi- 

16  tude  of  No.  And  I  will  bring  a  fire  upon  Egypt ;  Sin 
shall  tremble,  and  No  shall  be  broken  through,  and  Noph 

17  shall  be  plundered  by  day.  The  young  men  of  On  and 
of  Pibeseth  shall  fall  by  the  sword,  and  the  women  shall 

18  go  into  captivity.  At  Tahpanhes  also  the  day  shall  be 
darkened,  when  I  shall  break  there  the  yoke  of  Egypt, 
and  the  pride  of  her  strength  shall  cease  within  her.  A 
cloud  shall  cover  her,  and  her  daughters   shall   go  into 

19  captivity.  Thus  will  I  execute  judgments  upon  Egypt ; 
and  they  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 


20       Now  it  came  to  pass  in  the  eleventh  year,  in  the  first 


214  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XXXI. 

month,  on  the  seventh  day  of  the  month,  that  the  word 

21  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying:  Son  of  man,  1  have 
broken  the  arm  of  Pharaoh,  king  of  Egypt,  and  lo,  it  is 
not  bound  up,  so  as  to  have  medicines  appHed  to  it ;  a 
bandage  is  not  applied  to  it,  to  make  it  strong  to  hold  the 

22  sword.  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah:  Behold, 
I  am  against  Pharaoh,  the  king  of  Egypt ;  and  I  will  break 
his  arms,  both  the  strong  one,  and  that  which  was  broken, 

23  and  I  will  cause  the  sword  to  fall  out  of  his  hand.  And 
I  will  scatter  the  Egyptians  among  the  nations,  and  dis- 

24  perse  them  through  the  countries.  But  I  will  strengthen 
the  arms  of  the  king  of  Babylon,  and  will  put  my  sword 
into  his  hand,  and  break  the  arms  of  Pharaoh,  so  that  he 
shall  groan  before  him  with  the  groanings  of  a  deadly 

25  wounded  man.  Yea,  I  will  strengthen  the  arms  of  the 
king  of  Babylon,  and  the  arms  of  Pharaoh  shall  fall 
down ;  and  they  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah,  when  I 
shall  put  my  sword  into  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Babylon, 

26  and  he  shall  stretch  it  out  upon  the  land  of  Egypt.  And 
I  will  scatter  the  Egyptians  among  the  nations,  and  dis- 
perse them  among  the  countries,  and  they  shall  know  that 
I  am  Jehovah. 


1  Now  it  came  to  pass  in  the  eleventh  year,  in  the  third 
month,  on  the  first  day  of  the  month,  that  the  word  of 

2  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying :   Son  of  man,  say  to  Pha- 
raoh, king  of  Egypt,  and  to  his  multitude  :  — 

To  whom  art  thou  like  in  thy  greatness  ? 

3  Behold,  the  Assyrian  was  a  cedar  upon  Lebanon,  with 

fair  branches  ; 
An  overshadowing  thicket,  high  of  stature  ; 
And  his  top  was  among  thick  boughs. 

4  The  waters  made  him  great ;  the  deep  waters  made  him 

high  ; 
Their  streams  went  around  their  plantation. 
And  sent  forth  their  channels  to  all  the  trees  of  the  field. 

5  Therefore  his  height  was  exalted 
Above  all  the  trees  of  the  field. 

And  his  boughs  were  multiplied,  and  his  branches  became 
long, 


CH.  XXXI.]  EZEKIEL.  215 

Because  of  the  abundance  of  water  when  he  shot  forth. 

6  In  his  boughs  all  the  birds  of  heaven  made  their  nests, 
And  under  his  branches  all  the  beasts  of  the  field  brought 

forth  their  young ; 
And  under  his  shadow  dwelt  all  the  great  nations. 

7  Thus  was  he  beautiful  in  his  greatness,  in  the  length  of 

his  branches  ; 
For  his  root  was  by  many  waters. 

8  The  cedars  in  the  garden  of  God  could  not  hide  him ; 
The  cypress-trees  were  not  like  his  boughs. 

And  the  plane-trees  were  not  like  his  branches. 
Not  any  tree  in  the  garden  of  God 
Was  like  to  him  in  his  beauty. 

9  I  made  him  beautiful  in  the  multitude  of  his  branches, 

So  that  all  the  trees  of  Eden,  which  were  in  the  garden 
of  God,  envied  him. 

10  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah : 
Because  he  lifted  himself  up  in  stature, 
And  shot  up  his  top  among  the  thick  boughs, 

And  his  heart  was  lifted  up  on  account  of  his  height, 

11  Therefore  I  delivered  him  into  the  hand  of  the  mighty 

one  of  the  nations. 
To  deal  hardly  with  him ;  I  drave  him  out  for  his  wick- 
edness ; 

12  And  strangers,  the  terrible  of  the  nations,  cut  him  off  and 

cast  him  away. 
Upon  the  mountains  and  in  all  the  valleys  his  branches 

fell; 
And  his  boughs  were  broken  in  all  the  valleys  of  the  land. 
And  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  withdrew  from  his  shadow 

and  left  him ; 

13  Upon  his  ruin  dwelt  all  the  birds  of  the  heavens, 

And  upon  his  branches  were  all  the  beasts  of  the  forest. 

14  To  the  end  that  none  of  all  the  trees  by  the  waters 
Might  exalt  themselves  for  their  stature, 

Nor  shoot  up  their  top  among  the  thick  boughs, 

And  that  none  of  the  trees  that  drink  water  should  cleave 

to  them  on  account  of  their  height ; 
For  all  of  them  are  delivered  to  death,  to  the  lower  parta 

of  the  earth, 
In  the  midst  of  the  sons  of  men, 


216  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XXXII 

To  them  that  have  gone  down  to  the  pit. 

15  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah : 

In  the  day  when  he  went  down  to  the  grave, 

I  caused  the  deep  to  raourn,  I  covered  it  for  him ; 

I  restrained  on  account  of  him    the    streams,   and   the 

great  waters  were  kept  back ; 
And  I  caused  Lebanon  to  mourn  for  him, 
And  all  the  trees  of  the  field  fainted  for  him. 

16  At  the  sound  of  his  fall  I  made  the  nations  to  shake, 
When  I  cast  him  down  to  the  grave, 

To  them  that  have  gone  down  to  the  pit ; 

And  all  the  trees  of  Eden, 

The  choice  and  best  of  Lebanon, 

Even  all  that  drink  water, 

Were  comforted  in  the  lower  parts  of  the  earth. 

17  They  also  went  down  into  the  grave  with  him, 
To  them  that  have  been  slain  with  the  sword ; 
They  also  that  were  his  arm. 

That  dwelt  under  his  shadow  among  the  nations. 

18  To  whom  art  thou  thus  like  in  glory  and  greatness 

among  the  trees  of  Eden  ? 
Thou  shalt  be  brought  down  with  the  trees  of  Eden 
To  the  lower  parts  of  the  earth  ; 

Thou  shalt  lie  down  in  the  midst  of  the  uncircumcised, 
With  them  that  are  slain  by  the  sword. 
Thus  shall  it  be  with  Pharaoh  and  all  his  multitude, 
Saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 


1  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  twelfth  year,  in  the  twelfth 
month,  on  the  first  day  of  the  month,  that  the  word  of 

2  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying:  Son  of  man,  take  up  a 
lamentation  over  Pharaoh,  the  king  of  Egypt,  and  say  to 
him  :  — 

Thou  art  like  a  young  lion  among  the  nations ; 
Thou  art  like  a  dragon  in  the  seas ; 
And  thou  camest  forth  into  thy  rivers. 
And  troubledst  the  waters  with  thy  feet, 
And  didst  disturb  their  rivers. 


CH.  xxxn.]  EZEKIEL.  217 

3  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah : 

I  will  therefore  spread  my  net  over  thee, 
Amidst  an  assembly  of  many  nations  ; 
And  they  shall  draw  thee  up  in  my  net. 

4  And  I  will  throw  thee  upon  the  land, 

I  will  cast  thee  forth  upon  the  open  field, 

And  I  will  cause  all  the  birds  of  heaven  to  remain  upon 

thee. 
And  I  will  fill  the  beasts  of  the  whole  earth  with  thee ; 

5  And  I  will  lay  thy  flesh  upon  the  mountains, 
And  fill  the  valleys  with  thy  heaps. 

6  And  I  will  water  the  land  in  which  thou  swimmest  with 

thy  blood,  even  to  the  mountains. 
And  the  streams  shall  be  full  of  thee. 

7  And  I  will  cover  the  heavens,  when  I  quench  thee, 
And  make  the  stars  thereof  dark ; 

I  will  cover  the  sun  with  a  cloud, 
And  the  moon  shall  not  give  her  light. 

8  All  the  bright  lights  of  heaven  will  I  make  dark  over 

thee, 
And  bring  darkness  upon  thy  land, 
Saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 

9  And  I  will  grieve  the  hearts  of  many  nations, 
When  I  bring  thy  destruction  among  the  nations, 
In  lands  which  thou  knowest  not. 

10  Yea,  I  will  make  many  people  amazed  at  thee, 
And  their  kings  shall  shudder  on  account  of  thee. 
When  I  brandish  my  sword  before  them ; 

And  they  shall  tremble  every  moment,  every  one  for  his 
life,  in  the  day  of  thy  fall. 

11  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah : 

The  sword  of  the  king  of  Babylon  shall  come  upon  thee  ; 

12  By  the  swords  of  the  mighty  will  I  cause  thy  multitude 

to  fall. 
All  of  them  the  terrible  of  the  nations. 
And  they  shall  bring  to  nothing  the  pride  of  Egypt, 
And  all  her  multitude  shall  be  destroyed, 

13  I  will  also  destroy  all  her  beasts 
From  beside  the  great  waters ; 

Neither  shall  the  foot  of  man  trouble  them  any  more, 
Nor  shall  the  hoofs  of  beasts  trouble  them. 

VOL.  II.  XO 


218  EZEKTEL.  [CH.  xxxii 

14  Then  will  I  make  their  waters  clear. 
And  cause  their  rivers  to  run  like  oil, 
Saitli  the  Lord  Jehovah, 

15  When  I  shall  make  the  land  of  Egypt  desolate, 

And  the  country  shall  be  destitute  of  all  that  was  therein, 
When  I  shall  smite  all  that  dwell  therein, 
That  they  may  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 

16  This  is  the  lamentation  which  they  shall  utter;  the 
daughters  of  the  nations  shall  utter  it.  For  Egypt  and 
for  all  her  multitude  shall  they  utter  it,  saith  the  Lord 
Jehovah. 


17  It  came  to  pass  also  in  the  twelfth  year,  [in  the  twelfth 
month,]  on  tlie  fifteenth  day  of  the  month,  that  the  word 

IS  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying :  Son  of  man,  wail  for  the 
multitude  of  Egypt,  and  cast  her  down,  even  her  and  the 
daughters  of  the  fkmous  nations,  to  the  lower  parts  of  the 
earth,  to  them  that  have  gone  down  to  the  pit. 

19  Art  thou  more  beautiful  than  another? 
Come  down  and  be  laid  with  the  uncircumcised ! 

20  They  shall  fall  in  the  midst  of  them  that  are  slain  by  the 

sword. 
The  sword  is  given ;  drag  her  away  and  all  her  multi- 
tudes ! 

21  The  mightiest  heroes  from  the  midst  of  the  pit  shall  speak 

to  him  and  his  helpers ; 
For  they  are  gone  down,  they  lie  uncircumcised,  slain  by 
the  sword. 

22  There  is  Assyria  and  all  her  company ; 
Her  graves  are  round  about  her ; 

All  of  them  are  slain,  fallen  by  the  sword ; 

23  Her  grave  is  made  in  the  depths  of  the  pit, 
And  her  company  is  round  about  her  grave. 
All  of  them  slain,  fallen  by  the  sword, 

They  who  caused  terror  in  the  land  of  the  living. 

24  There  is  Elam  and  all  her  company  round  ab^ut  her 

grave, 


CH.  xxxii.^  EZEKIEL.  219 

All  of  them  slain,  fallen  by  the  sword ; 

They  are  gone  down  uncircumcised  to  the  lower  parts  of 

the  earth, 
Who  caused  terror  in  the  land  of  the  living ; 
They  bear  their  shame  with  them  that  have  gone  down  to 

the  pit. 

25  Among  the  slain  have  they  set  her  a  bed  with  all  her 

multitude  ; 
Her  graves  are  round  about  her, 
All  of  them  slain,  uncircumcised,  by  the  sword. 
Though  they  caused  terror  in  the  land  of  the  living. 
Yet  they  bear  their  shame  with  them  that  have  gone  down 

to  the  pit ; 
They  are  laid  in  the  midst  of  the  slain. 

26  There  is  Meshech,  Tubal,  and  all  their  multitude ; 
Their  graves  are  around  ihem  ; 

All  of  them  slain,  uncircumcised,  by  the  sword, 
Though  they  caused  terror  in  the  land  of  the  living. 

27  Shall  they  not  lie  with  the  mighty  of  the  uncircumcised 

that  are  fallen. 
Who  have  gone  down  to  the  pit  with  their  weapons  of 

war, 
Having  their  swords  laid  under  their  heads, 
And  their  iniquity  resting  upon  their  bones, 
Though  they  were  the  terror  of  the  mighty  in  the  land  of 

the  living  ? 

28  And  thou  also  shalt  be  broken  in  the  midst  of  the  uncir- 

cumcised. 
And  shalt  lie  down  with  them  that  are  slain  by  the  sword. 

29  There  is  Edom,  her  kings  and  all  her  princes, 

Who  in  their  might  are  laid  with  them  that  are  slain  by 

the  sword ; 
They  lie  down  with  the  uncircumcised. 
With  them  that  have  gone  down  to  the  pit. 

30  There  are  the  princes  of  the  North, 
All  of  them,  and  all  the  Sidonians, 
Who  have  gone  down  to  the  slain  ; 

In  the  midst  of  the  terror  of  their  might  they  are  put  to 
shame ; 


220  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XXXIII. 

They  lie  down  unclrcumcised  with  them  that  are  slain  by 

the  sword, 
And  bear  their  shame  with  them  that  have  gone  down  to 
the  pit. 

81       Pharaoh  shall  see  them, 

And  shall  comfort  himself  over  all  his  multitude ; 

Even  Pharaoh  and  all  his  army  are  slain  by  the  sword, 

Saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 
32  Though  I  suffered  him  to  spread  terror  in  the  land  of  the 
living, 

Yet  is  he  laid  in  the  midst  of  the  uncircumcised, 

With  them  that  are  slain  by  the  sword, 

Even  Pharaoh  and  all  his  multitude, 

Saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 


XXII. 

The  duties  of  a  prophet.  —  Cir.  XXXIII.  1-20. 

I,  2  Again  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying :  Son 
of  man,  speak  to  the  children  of  thy  people,  and  say  to 
them.  When  I  bring  the  sword  upon  a  land,  and  the  peo- 
ple of  the  land  take  a  man  out  of  their  whole  number,  and 

3  set  him  for  their  watchman,  and  he  seeth  the  sword  com- 
ing on  the  land,  and  bloweth  the  trumpet,  and  warneth 

4  the  people,  then  whoever  heareth  the  sound  of  the  trum- 
pet, and  taketh  not  warning,  and  the  sword  cometh  and 
taketh  him  away,  his  blood  shall  be  upon  his  own  head. 

5  He  heard  the  sound  of  the  trumpet,  and  took  not  warning. 
His  blood  shall  be  upon  him.     But  he  that  taketh  warning 

6  shall  save  his  life.  But  if  the  watchman  see  the  sword 
coming,  and  blow  not  the  trumpet,  and  the  people  be  not 
warned,  and  the  sword  come  and  take  away  any  person 
from  among  them,  he  is  taken  away  for  his  iniquity,  but 
his  blood  will  I  require  at  the  watchman's  hand. 

7  So  thou,  son  of  man,  I  have  set  thee  a  watchman  to  the 
house  of  Israel,  that  thou  shouldst  hear  the  word  from  my 

S  mouth,  and  warn  them  from  me.  When  I  say  to  the 
wicked,  "  O  wicked  man,  thou  shalt  surely  die ! "  and  thou 


CH.  XXXIII.]  EZEKIEL.  221 

speakest  not  to  warn  the  wicked  from  his  way,  that  wick- 
ed man  shall  die  for  his  iniquity,  but  his  blood  will  I  re- 
9  quire  at  thy  hand.  Yet  if  thou  warn  the  wicked  of  his 
way,  to  turn  from  it,  and  he  tunieth  not  from  his  way,  he 
shall  die  for  his  iniquity,  but  thou  hast  delivered  thyself. 

10  Tliou,  therefore,  O  son  of  man,  say  to  the  house  of  Isra- 
el :  Rightly  do  ye  say,  "  Our  transgressions  and  our  sins 
are  upon  us.  and  throiigli  them  we  pine  away.     How  then 

11  can  we  live?"  Say  to  them,  As  I  live,  saith  tlie  Lord 
Jehovah,  I  have  no  pleasure  in  tlie  deatli  of  the  wicked, 
but  that  the  wicked  turn  from  his  way  and  live ;  turn  ye, 
turn  ye,  from  your  evil  ways !  for  why  will  ye  die,  O 
house  of  Israel  ? 

12  Thou  also,  son  of  man,  say  to  the  sons  of  thy  people, 
The  righteousness  of  the  rigliteous  sliall  not  deliver  him  in 
the  day  of  his  transgression  ;  and  through  his  wickedness 
shall  not  the  wicked  man  fall  in  the  day  when  he  turneth 
from  his  wickedness ;  neither  shall  the  righteous  be  able 

13  to  live  m  the  day  when  he  sinneth.  When  I  say  concern- 
ing the  righteous,  "  He  shall  surely  live,"  and  he  trusteth 
in  his  righteousness,  and  doeth  iniquity,  all  liis  righteous- 
ness shall  not  be  remembered,  but  for  his  iniquity  which 

14  he  hath  committed  shall  he  die.  Again,  wlien  I  say  con- 
cerning the  wicked,  "  He  shall  surely  die,"  and  he  turneth 

15  from  his  sin,  and  doeth  that  which  is  just  and  right,  and 
the  wicked  restoreth  the  pledge,  giveth  back  that  which 
he  hath  taken  by  violence,  and  walketh  in  the  statutes  of 
life  without  committing  iniquity,  he  shall  surely  live,  he 

16  shall  not  die.  None  of  his  sins  which  he  hath  committed 
shall  be  mentioned  to  him ;  he  hath  done  that  which  is 
just  and  right ;  he  shall  surely  live. 

17  And  yet  the  sons  of  thy  people  say,  "  The  way  of  the 
Lord  is  not  right!"     But  it  is  their  way  which  is  not 

18  right.  When  the  righteous  man  turneth  from  his  right- 
eousness, and  committeth  iniquity,  he  dieth  because  of  it. 

19  And  when  the  wicked  turneth  from  his  wickedness,  and 
doeth  that  which  is  just  and  right,  he  shall  live  thereby. 

20  And  yet  ye  say,  "  The  way  of  the  Lord  is  not  right ! " 
0  house  of  Israel,  I  will  judge  you  every  one  according 
to  his  ways ! 


222  EZEKIEL.  [cH.  XXXIII. 


XXIII. 

Against  those  that  were  left  in  Judaea  after  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem  by 
the  Babylonians.  —  Ch.  XXXIII.  21  -  33. 

21  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  twelfth  year  of  our  captiv- 
ity, in  the  tenth  month,  on  the  fifth  clay  of  the  month, 
that  one  who  had  escaped  from  Jerusalem  came  to  me, 
saying,  "  The  city  is  smitten  !  " 

22  Now  the  hand  of  Jehovah  had  been  upon  me  in  the 
evening  before  he  that  had  escaped  came  ;  and  he  opened 
my  mouth,  until  he  came  to  me  in  the  morning;  he 
opened  my  mouth,  so  that  I  was  no  longer  dumb. 

23,  24  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying :  Son 
of  man,  the}'-  that  inhabit  those  wastes  in  the  land  of 
Israel  say,  "  Abraham  was  but  one,  and  he  inherited  the 
land ;  but  we  are  many ;  to  us  is  the  land  given  for  an 

25  inheritance."  Therefore  say  to  them.  Thus  saith  the 
Lord  Jehovah  :  Ye  eat  with  the  blood,  and  lift  up  your 
eyes  to  your  idols,  and  shed  blood ;  and  shall  ye  possess 

26  the  land  ?  Ye  trust  to  your  swords,  ye  commit  abomina- 
tion, and  ye  defile,  every  one,  his  neighbor's  wife ;  and 

27  shall  ye  possess  the  land  ?  Say  thou  thus  to  them :  Thus 
saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  :  As  I  live,  surely  they  that  are 
in  the  wastes  shall  fall  by  the  sword,  and  him  that  is  in 
the  open  countiy  will  I  give  to  the  beasts  to  be  devoured, 
and  they  that  are  in  the  forts  and  caves  shall  i'all  by  the 

28  pestilence.  And  I  will  make  the  land  an  utter  desola- 
tion ;  and  the  pride  of  her  strength  shall  cease  ;  and  the 
mountains  of  Israel  shall  be  desolate,  so  that  none  shall 

29  pass  through.  Then  shall  they  know  that  I  am  Jehovah, 
when  I  have  made  the  land  an  utter  desolation,  on  ac- 
count of  all  the  abominations  which  they  practise. 

30  As  for  thee,  O  son  of  man,  the  sons  of  thy  people  speak 
concerning  thee  by  the  walls,  and  in  the  doors  of  houses  ; 
and  speak  one  to  another,  every  man  to  his  neighbor. 
Baying,  "  Come,  I  pray  you,  and  hear  what  is  the  word 

31  that  goeth  forth  from  Jehovah."  And  they  come  to  thee, 
as  the  people  assembleth,  and  they  sit  before  thee,  as  my 
people,  and  they  hear  thy  woids,  but  will  not  do  them  ; 
for  with  their  mouth  they  do  what  is  lovely,  but  their 


CH.  XXXIV  ] 


EZEKIEL.  223 


32  heart  goeth  after  gain.  And  behold,  thou  art  to  them  as 
a  very  lovely  song  of  one  that  hath  a  pleasant  voice,  and 
can  play  well  on  an  instrument ;  for  they  hear  thy  words, 

33  but  do  them  not.  But  when  this  cometh  to  pass,  (and 
behold,  it  shall  come  to  pass,)  then  shall  they  know  that 
a  prophet  hath  been  among  them. 


XXIV. 

Against  unjust  and  oppressive  rulers.  God's  promise  to  bring  his  people 
from  captivity,  and  to  raise  up  a  second  David  to  be  their  Icing.  —  Ch. 
XXXIV. 

1,  2  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying:  Son 
of  man,  prophesy  against  the  shepherds  of  Israel  ;  proph- 
esy, and  say  to  them,  to  the  shepherds,  Tlius  saith  the 
Lord  Jehovah  :  Woe  to  the  shepherds  of  Israel,  who  feed 
themselves!     Should  not  the  shepherds  feed  the  flocks? 

3  Ye  eat  the  fat,  and  ye  clothe  you  with  the  wool,  ye  kill 

4  that  which  is  fatted  ;  but  ye  feed  not  the  flock.  The 
weak  do  ye  not  strengthen,  and  the  sick  do  ye  not  heal, 
and  the  wounded  do  ye  not  bind  up ;  ye  bring  not  back 
that  which  hath  been  driven  away,  neither  seek  ye  that 
which  hath  been  lost ;  but  with  force  and  with  cruelty  do 

5  ye  rule  them.  Therefore  are  they  scattered  abroad,  be- 
cause there  is  no  shepherd,  and  they  are  food  to  all  the 

6  beasts  of  the  field,  or  are  scattered  abroad.  My  sheep 
wander  through  all  the  mountains,  and  upon  every  high 
hill;  yea,  over  the  whole  face  of  the  land  is  my  flock 
scattered,  and  none  careth  for  them,  or  seeketh  them. 

7  Therefore,  ye  shepnerds,  hear  the  word   of  Jehovah: 

8  As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah,  surely,  because  my 
flock  is  become  a  prey,  and  my  flock  is  become  meat  to 
all  the  beasts  of  the  field  because  there  is  no  shepherd, 
and  because  my  shepherds  search  not  for  my  flock,  and 

9  feed  themselves,  and  feed  not  my  flock,  —  therefore,  ye 
10  shepherds,  hear  the  word  of  Jehovah.     Thus    saith   the 

Lord  Jehovah :  Behold,  I  am  against  the  shephei-ds,  and 
I  will  require  my  flock  at  their  hand,  and  cause  them  to 
cease  from  feeding  the  flock ;  neither  shall  the  shepherds 


224  EZEKIEL.  [cH.  xxxiv 

feed  themselves  any  more ;  for  I  will  deliver  my  flock 
from  their  mouth,  and  they  shall  not  be  meat  for  them. 

11  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  :  Behold  I,  even  I,  will 

12  seek  my  flofk,  and  look  after  them  ;  as  a  shepherd  looketh 
after  his  flock  in  the  day  when  he  is  among  his  sheep 
that  are  scattered,  so  will  I  look  after  my  sheep,  and  will 
deliver  them  out  of  all  the  places  where  they  have  been 

13  scattered  in  the  day  of  clouds  and  darkness.  And  I  will 
bring  them  out  from  the  nations,  and  gather  them  from 
the  countries  ;  and  I  will  bring  them  to  their  own  land, 
and  feed  them  upon  the  mountains  of  Israel,  in  the  val- 

14  leys,  and  in  all  the  dwelling-places  of  the  land.  I  will 
feed  them  in  a  good  pasture,  and  upon  the  high  moun- 
tains of  Israel  shall  their  fold  be ;  there  shall  they  lie 
down  in  a  good  fold,  and  in  a  fat  pasture  shall  they  feed 

15  upon  the  mountains  of  Israel.  I  will  feed  my  flock,  and 
I  will  cause  them  to  lie  down,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 

16  I  will  seek  that  which  was  lost,  and  bring  back  that  which 
was  driven  away,  and  will  bind  up  that  which  was  broken, 
and  will  strengthen  the  sick  ;  but  the  fat  and  the  strong 
will  I  destroy  ;  I  will  feed  them  as  they  deserve. 

17  And  as  for  you,  O  my  sheep,  thus  saith  the  Lord  Je- 
hovah :  Behold,  I  will  judge  between  the  weak  of  the 
flock  and  the  strong  ones,  even  the  rams  and  the  lie- 

18  goats.  Seemeth  it  a  small  thing  to  you  to  eat  up  the 
good  pasture,  but  ye  must  tread  down  with  your  feet  the 
residue   of  your   pastures  ?   and   to   drink    of  the    clear 

19  waters,  but  ye  must  foul  the  residue  with  your  feet  ?  and 
that  my  sheep  eat  that  which  ye  have  trodden  with  your 
feet,  and  drink  that  which  ye  have  fouled  with  your  feet? 

20  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  to  them:  Be- 
hold I,  even  I,  will  judge  between  the  fat  and  the  lean  of 

21  the  flock.  Because  ye  tlirust  with  your  side  and  with  your 
shoulder,  and  push  all  the  weak  with  your  horns,  till  ye 

22  scatter  them  abroad,  therefore  will  I  save  my  sheep,  and 
they  shall  no  more  be  a  prey ;  and  I  will  judge  between 

23  sheep  and  sheep.  And  I  will  raise  up  one  shepherd  over 
them,  and  he  shall  feed  them,  even  my  servant  David ;  he 

24  shall  feed  them,  and  he  shall  be  their  shepherd.  And  I, 
Jehovah,  will  be  their  God,  and    my  servant    David    a 

25  prince  among  them.  I,  Jehovah,  have  spoken  it.  And  I 
will  make  with  them  a  covenant  of  peace,  and  will  cause 


CH.  XXXV. 


EZEKIEL.  225 


evil  beasts  to  cease  out  of  the  land,  so  that  they  shall 

26  dwell  safely  in  the  desert,  and  sleep  in  the  woods.  And  I 
will  make  them,  and  the  places  round  about  my  hill,  a 
blessing ;  and  I  will  cause  the  shower  to  come  down  in  its 

27  season ;  showers  rich  in  blessings  shall  there  be.  And 
the  tree  of  the  field  shall  yield  her  fruit,  and  the  earth 
shall  yield  her  increase ;  and  they  shall  be  secure  in  their 
land,  and  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah,  when  I  shall 
break  the  bands  of  their  yoke  and  deliver  them  out  of  the 

28  hand  of  them  that  made  them  servants.  And  they  shall 
no  more  be  a  prey  to  the  nations,  neither  shall  the  beasts 
of  the  land  devour  them  ;  but  they  shall  dwell  in  security, 

29  and  none  shall  make  them  afraid.  And  I  will  raise  up 
for  them  a  plantation  for  my  glory ;  and  they  shall  no 
more  be  consumed  with  hunuer  in  the  land,  neither  shall 

30  they  bear  the  reproach  of  the  nations  any  more.  Then 
shall  they  know,  that  I,  Jehovah,  their  God,  am  with  them, 
and  that  they,  the  house  of  Israel,  are  my  people,  saith 
the  Lord  Jehovah. 

31  For  ye,  my  flock,  the  flock  of  my  pasture,  are  men,  and 
I  am  your  God,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 


XXV. 

Prophecy  against  the  Edomites.  —  Ch.  XXXV. 

1  Moreover,  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying: 

2  Son  of  man,  set  thy  face  against  Mount  Seir,  and  prophe- 

3  sy  against  it,  and  say  to  it,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah: 
Behold,  I  am  against  thee,  O  Mount  Seir,  and  I  will 
stretch  out  my  hand  against  thee,  and  I  will  make  thee  an 

4  utter  desolation ;  I  will  lay  thy  cities  waste,  and  thou 
shalt  be  desolate,  and  thou  shalt  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 

5  Because  thou  bearest  a  perpetual  hatred,  and  deliverest 
up  the  sons  of  Israel  to  the  sword  in  the  time  of  their  ca- 
lamity, in  the  time  when  iniquity  bringeth  destruction : 

6  therefore,  as  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah,  surely  to 
blood  will  I  bring  thee,  and  blood  shall  pursue  thee ;  since 

7  thou  hast  not  hated  blood,  blood  shall  pursue  thee.  Thus 
will  1  make  JNIount  Seir  an   utter  desolation,  and  cut  oif 


226  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XXXVI. 

from  it  him   that   passeth  out,  and  him  that  returneth. 

8  And  I  will  fill  his  valleys  Vvdtli  the  slain.  Upon  thy  hills 
and  in  thy  plains  and  in  thy  valleys  shall  fall  they  that 

9  are  slain  with  the  sword.  I  will  make  thee  a  perpetual 
desolation,  and  thy  cities  shall  not  be  inhabited ;  and  ye 
shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 

10  Because  thou  hast  said,  "  These  two  nations  and  these 
two  countries  shall  be  mine,  and  we  shall  possess  them," 

11  whereas  Jehovah  was  there  ;  therefore,  as  I  live,  saith 
the  Lord  Jehovah,  I  will  do  according  to  thine  anger  and 
according  to  thine  envy  which  in  thy  hatred  against  them 
thou   hast  practised,  and  I  will   make  myself  known  to 

12  them  when  I  judge  thee.  And  thou  shalt  know  that  I 
am  Jehovah,  and  that  I  have  heard  all  thy  blasphemies 
which  thou  hast  spoken  against  the  mountains  of  Israel, 
saying :  "  They  are  laid  desolate  ;  to  us  are  they  given  to 

13  be  devoured."  Thus  with  your  mouth  have  ye  magnified 
yourselves  against  me,  and  multiplied  your  w^ords  against 
me  ;  I  have  heard  them. 

14  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :    When  the  whole  land 

15  reioiceth,  I  will  prej)are  desolation  for  thee.  As  thou 
didst  rejoice  over  my  inheritance,  the  house  of  Israel,  be- 
cause it  was  desolate,  so  will  I  do  to  thee !  Mount  Seir 
shall  be  desolate,  and  all  Edom,  even  all  of  it;  and  they 
shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 


XXVI. 

Promises  of  restoration  and  of  great  felicity  to  Israel.  —  Cir.  XXXV2, 

1  Also,  thou  son  of  man,  prophesy  to  the  mountains  of 
Israel,  and  say :  Ye  mountains  of  Israel,  hear  the  word  of 

2  Jehovah.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  Because  the 
enemy  hath  said  concerning  you,  "  Aha !    the  everlasting 

3  heights  have  become  our  possession";  therefore  prophe- 
sy and  say,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  Because,  yea, 
because  they  have  made  you  desolate,  and  swallowed  you 
up  on  every  side,  so  that  ye  have  become  a  possession  to 
the  residue  of  the  nations,  and  a  subject  for  the  lips  of 

4  talkers,  and  a  derision  to  the  people ;  therefore,  ye  moun- 


OH.  XXXVI. 


EZEKIEL.  227 


tains  of  Israel,  hear  the  word  of  tlie  Lord  Jehovah. 
Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah,  to  the  mountains  and  the 
hills,  the  valleys  and  the  phiins,  to  the  desolate  wastes  and 
to  the  forsaken  cities,  which  are  become  a  prey  and  a  de- 
rision to  the  residue  of  the  nations  which  are  round  about, 

5  —  therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  Surely  in 
the  fire  of  my  jealousy  have  I  spoken  against  the  residue 
of  the  nations,  and  against  all  Edom,  wdio  have  allotted 
my  land  to  themselves  for  a  possession,  with  joy  of  their 
whole  heart,  and  with  a  desj^iteful  mind,  to  east  it  out  for 
a  prey. 

6  Prophesy,  therefore,  concerning  the  land  of  Israel,  and 
say  to  the  mountains  and  to  the  hills,  to  tlie  valleys  and 
the  plains.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  Behold,  I  have 
spoken  in  my  jealousy  and  in  my  fury,  because  ye  have 

7  borne  the  reproach  of  the  nations.  Therefore  thus  saith 
the  Lord  Jehovah  :  I  have  lifted  up  ray  hand,  that  the  na- 
tions that  are  round  about  you,  that  they  shall  bear  their 

8  reproach.  But  ye,  O  mountains  of  Israel,  shall  shoot 
forth  your  branches,  and  bear  your  fruit  for  my  people  Is- 

9  rael ;  for  they  are  near  coming.  For  behold,  I  am  for 
you,  and  I  will  turn  to  you,  and  ye  shall  be  tilled  and 

10  sown  ;  and  I  will  multiply  men  upon  you,  even  all  the 
house  of  Israel,  all  of  it ;  and  the  cities  shall  be  inhabited, 

11  and  the  waste  places  shall  be  built.  I  will  multiply  men 
upon  you,  and  beasts;  and  they  shall  increase  and  be  fruit- 
ful ;  and  I  will  cause  you  to  be  inhabited  as  of  old,  and 
will  do  better  to  you  than  in  the  ancient  time ;  and  ye 

12  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah.  Yea,  I  will  cause  men, 
even  my  people  Israel,  to  walk  upon  you,  and  they  shall 
possess  thee,  and  thou  shalt  be  their  inheritance,  and  thou 
shalt  no  more  henceforth  bereave  them  of  children. 

13  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  Because  they  say  of 
you,  "  Thou  hast  devoured    men,  and    made   thy  people 

14  childless ! "  therefore  thou  shalt  devour  men  no  more,  and 
no  more  make  thy  people  childless,  saith  the  Lord  Jeho- 

15  vah.  Neither  will  I  cause  the  reproach  of  the  nations  to 
be  heard  against  thee  any  more,  neither  shalt  thou  bear 
the  derision  of  the  nations  any  more,  neither  shalt  thou 
make  thy  nation  childless  any  more,  saith  the  lord  Je- 
hovah. 


228  EZEKIEL.  [cH.  XXXVI. 

16  Moreover,  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying : 

17  Son  of  man,  when  the  house  of  Israel  dwelt  in  their  own 
land,  they  defiled  it  by  their  way  and  by  their  doings ; 
their  way  before  me  was  as  the  impurity  of  an  unclean 

18  woman.  Wherefore  I  poured  my  fury  upon  them  for 
the  blood  which  they  had  shed  in  the  land,  and  because 

19  they  had  polluted  it  with  their  idols.  And  I  scattered 
them  among  the  nations,  and  they  were  dispersed  through 
the  countries  ;   according  to  their  way  and  according  to 

20  their  doings  I  judged  them.  And  when  they  came  to  the 
nations  whither  they  went,  they  polluted  my  holy  name, 
in  that  it  was  said  of  them,  "  These  are  the  people  of 

21  Jehovah,  and  they  are  gone  forth  out  of  his  land."  There- 
fore I  will  have  regard  to  ray  holy  name,  which  the  house 
of  Israel  have  polluted  among  the  nations  whither  they 
are  gone. 

22  Tlierefore  say  to  the  house  of  Israel,  Thus  saith  the 
Lord  Jehovah :  Not  for  your  own  sakes  do  I  this,  O 
house  of  Israel,  but  for  my  holy  name,  which  ye  have 

23  polluted  among  the  nations  whither  ye  are  gone.  And  I 
will  sanctify  my  great  name,  which  hath  been  polluted 
among  the  nations,  which  ye  have  profaned  in  the  midst 
of  them ;  and  the  nations  shall  know  tliat  I  am  Jehovah, 
when  I  shall  be  sanctified  in  regard  to  you,  before  their 

24  eyes,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovali.  For  I  will  take  you  from 
among  the  nations,  and  gather  you  out  of  all  countries,  and 

25  bring  you  into  your  own  land.  Then  will  I  sprinkle 
clean  water  upon  you,  and  ye  shall  be  clean.  From  all 
your  uncleanness  and  from  all  your  idols  will  I  cleanse 

26  you.  A  new  heart  also  will  I  give  you,  and  a  new  spirit 
will  I  put  within  you;  and  I  will  take  out  of  your  body 
the  heart  of  stone,  and  I  will  give  you  a  heart  of  fiesh. 

27  And  I  will  put  my  spirit  within  you,  and  cause  you  to 
walk  in  my  statutes,  and    ye  shall    keep  ray  command - 

28  ments    and  do  them.     And   ye  sliall  dwell   in   the  land 
-  which  I  gave  to  your  fathers,  and  ye  shall  be  my  people, 

29  and  I  will  be  your  God.  And  I  will  save  you  from  all 
your  uncleanness.     And  I  will  call  for  the  corn,  and  will 

30  increase  it,  and  bring  no  famine  upon  you.  And  I  will 
multiply  the  fruit  of  the  tree,  and  the  increase  of  the  field, 
that  ye   may  receive  no  more  the  reproach    of  famine 

31  amon.ET  the  nations.     Then   shall  ve  re  i-cuib-r  viur  evil 


CH.  xxxvii.J  jCZEKIEL.  229 

ways,  and   your  doings  which  were    not    good,    and   ye 
shall  loathe  yourselves  for  your  iniquities,  and  for  your 

32  abominations.  Not  for  your  own  sakes  do  I  this,  saith 
the  Lord  Jehovah,  be  it  known  to  you.  Be  ye  asliamed 
and  confounded  for  your  ways,  0  house  of  Israel! 

33  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah:  In  the  day  when  I 
shall  cleanse  you  from  all  your  iniquities,  then  will  I 
cause  the  cities  to  be  inhabited,  and  the  waste  places  to 

34  be  rebuilt ;  and  the  desolate  land  shall  be  tilled,  whereas 

35  it  lay  desolate  in  the  sight  of  all  that  passed  by.  Then 
shall  it  be  said,  ''  This  land,  that  was  desolate,  is  become 
as  the  garden  of  Eden;  and  the  waste  and  desolate  and 
ruined   cities    are    become   fenced,    and   are   inhabited." 

36  Then  the  nations  that  are  left  around  you  shall  know 
that  I,  Jehovah,  have  built  that  which  was  ruined,  and 
planted  that  whicli  was  desolate.  I,  Jehovah,  have  spoken 
it,  and  I  will  do  it. 

37  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jeliovah  :  Yet  will  I  listen  to  the 
house  of  Israel,  and  do  this  for  them.     I  will  increase 

38  them  with  men  like  a  flock  ;  as  the  holy  flock,  as  the 
flock  of  Jerusalem  in  her  solemn  feasts  ;  so  shall  the 
waste  cities  be  filled  with  flocks  of  men ;  and  they  shall 
know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 


XXVII. 

Restoration  of  the  Jews  represented  bv  the  vision  of  a  resurrection  ot  dry 
bones.  —  Ch.  XXXVII.  1  -  14. 

1  The  hand  of  Jehovah  was  upon  me,  and  he  carried  me 
out  in  the  spirit  of  Jehovah,  and  set  me  in  the  midst  of  a 

2  valley,  which  was  full  of  bones,  and  caused  me  to  pass  by 
them  round  about ;  and  behold,  there  were  very  many 
upon  the  surface  of  the  valley,  and  lo,  they  were  very 
dry. 

3  And  he  said  to  me,  Son  of  man,  can  these  bones  live  ? 

4  And  I  answered,  0  Lord  Jehovah,  thou  knowest !  Then 
he  said  to  me.  Prophesy  to  these  dry  bones,  and  say  to 


230  EZEKIEL.  [en.  xxs  ru 

5  them,  0  ye  dry  bones,  hear  the  word  of  Jehovah!  Thug 
saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  to  these  bones:  Behold,  I  will 

6  cause  breath  to  enter  into  you,  and  ye  shall  live  ;  and  I 
will  lay  sinews  upon  you,  and  will  bring  up  flesh  upon 
you,  and  cover  you  with  skin,  and  put  breath  into  you, 
and  ye  shall  live  ;  and  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 

7  So  I  prophesied,  as  I  was  commanded ;  and  as  I  proph- 
esied, a  voice  was  heard,  and  behold,  a  shaking,  and  the 

8  bones  came  together,  bone  to  its  bone.  And  when  I 
looked,  behold,  there  were  sinews  upon  them,  and  the 
flesh  grew,  and  the  skin  covered  them  above  ;  but  there 

9  was  no  breath  in  them.  Then  said  he  to  me.  Prophesy 
to  breath,  prophesy,  O  son  of  man,  and  say  to  breath, 
Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah:  Come  from  the  four  winds, 
O  breath,  and  breathe  u})on  the?e  slain,  that  they  may 

10  live !  So  I  prophesied,  as  he  commanded  me ;  and  the 
breath  came  into  them,  and  they  lived  and  stood  on  their 
feet,  an  exceedingly  great  host. 

11  And  he  said  to  me,  Son  of  man,  these  bones  denote  the 
whole  house  of  Israel.     Behold,  they  say,  "  Our  bones  are 

12  dried,  and  our  hope  is  lost,  and  we  are  cut  off."  There- 
fore prophesy,  and  say  to  them,  Thus  saith  the  Lord 
Jehovah :  Behold,  I  will  open  your  graves,  and  cause 
you  to  come  up  out  of  your  graves,  O  my  people,  and 

13  bring  you  into  the  land  of  Israel.  And  ye  shall  know 
that  I  am  Jehovah,  when  I  open  your  graves,  and  cause 

14  you  to  come  up  out  of  your  graves,  O  my  people,  and  put 
my  breath  within  you,  and  ye  live,  and  I  place  you  in 
your  own  land ;  then  shall  ye  know  that  I,  Jehovah,  have 
spoken  it,  and  done  it,  saith  Jehovah. 


xxvni. 

Reunion  of  the  tribes  of  Israel  symbolically  represented.    Future  piety 
and  prosperity.  —  Ch.  XXXVII.  15  -  28. 

15,  16  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying:  Son 
of  man,  take  thee  one  stick,  and  write  upon  it,  "'  For  Ju- 
dah,  and  for  the  sons  of  Israel,  his  companions  "  ;  and 
take  another  stick,  and  write  upon  it,  "  For  Joseph,  the 


CH.  XXXVII.]  EZEKIEL.  231 

stick  of  Epbraim,  and  the  whole  house  of  Israel,  his  com- 

17  panions."     Then  join  them  one  to  another  into  one  stick, 

18  that  they  may  become  one  in  thy  hand.  And  when  the 
sons  of  thy  people  say  to  thee,  '^  Wilt  thou  not  show  us 

19  what  thou  meanest  by  these  ?  "  say  to  them,  Thus  saith 
the  Lord  Jehovah:  Behold,  I  will  take  the  stick  of  Josepli, 
which  is  in  the  hand  of  Epbraim,  and  of  the  tribes  of 
Israel,  his  companions,  and  will  unite  them  and  him  with 
the  stick  of  Judah,  and  make  them  one  stick,  and  tliey 

20  shall   be  one  in  my  hand.     And  let  the  sticks  Avhereon 

21  thou  writest  be  in  thy  hand  before  tlieir  eyes  ;  and  say 
thou  to  them,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah:  Behold,  I 
will  take  the  sons  of  Israel  from  among  the  nations 
whither  they  are  gone,  and  will  gather  them  from  every 

22  side,  and  bring  them  into  their  own  land.  And  I  will 
make  them  one  nation  in  the  land,  upon  the  mountains  of 
Israel  ;  and  one  king  shall  be  king  over  them  all ;  and 
they  shall  no  more  be  two  nations,  and  no  more  shall  they 

23  be  divided  into  two  kingdoms.  Neither  shall  they  defile 
themselves  any  more  with  their  idols,  nor  with  their 
abominations,  nor  with  any  of  their  transgressions  ;  but  I 
will  save  them  from  all  their  dwelling-places  wherein 
they  have  sinned,  and  will  cleanse  them  ;  and  they  shall 

24  be  my  people,  and  I  will  be  their  God.  And  my  servant 
David  shall  be  king  over  them,  and  they  shall  have  one 
shepherd  ;   and   they   shall  walk   in   my   commandments, 

25  and  observe  my  statutes,  and  do  them.  And  they  shall 
dwell  in  the  land  which  I  gave  to  my  servant  Jacob, 
wherein  your  fathers  dwelt;  they  shall  dwell  therein,  and 
their  sons  and  their  son's  sons  forever ;  and  David,  my 

26  servant,  shall  be  their  prince  forever.  And  I  will  make 
with  them  a  covenant  of  peace  ;  it  shall  be  an  everlasting 
covenant  with  them.  And  I  will  place  them  [in  the 
land],  and  multiply  them,  and  set  my  sanctuary  in  the 

27  midst  of  them  forever.  And  my  dwelling-place  shall  be 
with  them ;  yea,  I  will  be  their  God,  and  they  shall  be 

28  my  people ;  and  the  nations  shall  know  that  I,  Jehovah, 
do  sanctify  Israel,  when  my  sanctuary  shall  be  in  the 
midst  of  them  for  ever  more. 


232  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  xxxviii. 


XXIX. 

Expedition  of  barbarous  nations,  under  the  command  of  Gog,  against 
Israel  after  their  restoration ;  their  defeat,  and  the  triumph  and  happi- 
ness of  the  Jews.  —  Ch.  XXXVIII.,  XXXIX. 

1,  2  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  rae,  saying:  Son  of 
man,  set  thy  face  against  Gog,  of  the  land  of  Magog, 
prince    of    Rosh,    Meshech,    and    Tubal,    and    prophesy 

3  against  him,  and  say,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah : 
Behold,  I  am  against  thee,  0  Gog,  prince  of  Rosh,  Me- 

4  shech,  and  Tubal !  And  I  will  turn  thee  about,  and  put 
rings  into  thy  jaws ;  and  I  will  bring  thee  forth,  thee 
and  all  thine  army,  horses  and  horsemen,  all  of  them 
clothed  in  gorgeous  apparel,  even  a  great  multitude  with 

5  bucklers  and  shields,  all  of  them  handhng  swords.  Per- 
sians, Ethiopians,  and  Lybians  are  with  them,  all  of  them 

6  with  shields  and  helmets.  Gomer  and  all  his  bands,  the 
house  of  Togarmah  from  the  north  quarters,  and  all  their 
hosts,  many  nations  are  with  thee. 

7  Be  prepared,  and  prepare  for  thyself,  thou  and  all  thy 
host  that  are  assembled  unto  thee,  and  be  thou  their  leader  ! 

8  After  many  days  shalt  thou  be  appointed  over  them.  In 
the  latter  yeais  slialt  thou  come  into  a  land  that  is  brought 
back  from  the  sword,  gathered  out  of  many  nations  upon 
the  mountains  of  Israel,  which  had  been  long  desolate  ; 
but  it  is  brought  forth  out  of  the  nations,  and  they  shall 

9  dwell  securely,  all  of  them.  Thou  shalt  go  up  like  a 
storm,  thou  shalt  come  like  a  cloud,  to  cover  the  land, 
thou  and  all  thy  bands,  and  many  nations  with  thee. 

10  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  At  the  same  time  shall 
thoughts  come  into  thy  mind,  and  thou  shalt  meditate  an 

11  evil  design,  and  slialt  say,  "I  will  go  up  to  the  land  of  un- 
walled  villages ;  I  will  go  to  them  that  are  at  rest,  that 
dwell  securely,  all  of  them  dwelling  without  walls,  and 

12  having  neither  bars  nor  gates,  to  take  a  spoil  and  to  divide 
a  prey,  to  turn  my  hand  against  the  desolated  places  that 
have  become  inhabited,  and  against  a  people  gathered  out 
of  the  nations,  possessing  cattle  and  goods,  dwelling  in  the 

13  heights  of  the  earth."     Slieba,  and  Dedan,  and  the  mer- 


CH.  XXXIX.]  EZEKIEL.  233 

chants  of  Tarshish,  and  all  the  chiefs  tliercof,  shall  say  to 
thee,  "  Art  thou  come  to  take  a  spoil  ?  Hast  thou  gath- 
ered tliy  comi)any  to  divide  a  prey  ?  to  carry  away  silver 
and  gold,  to  take  away  cattle  and  goods,  and  to  divide 
great  spoil  ?  " 

14  Therefore  prophesy,  son  of  man,  and  say  to  Gog,  Thus 
saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  :  In  that  day  when  my  people  Is- 

i5  rael  dwelleth  securely,  thou  shalt  observe  it,  and  thou 
shalt  come  up  from  the  regions  of  the  North,  thou  and 
many  nations  with  thee,  all  of  them  riding  upon  horses,  a 

16  great  company,  and  a  mighty  host ;  thou  shalt  come  up 
against  my  people  Israel  like  a  cloud,  to  cover  the  land ; 
in  the  latter  days  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  I  will  bring 
thee  against  my  land,  that  the  nations  may  know  me,  when 
I  shall  be  sanctified  in  regard  to  thee,  before  their  eyes, 

0  Gog! 

17  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  :  Art  thou  not  he  of  whom 

1  spoke  in  old  time  by  my  servants,  the  prophets  of  Isra- 
el, who  prophesied  in  those  days  and  years,  that  I  would 

18  bring  thee  against  them?  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in 
that  day,  in  the  day  when  Gog  shall  come  against  the  land 
of  Israel,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah,  that  my  anger  shall  as- 

19  cend  in  fury.  For  in  my  jealousy,  in  the  fire  of  my 
wrath,  have  I  spoken.  Surely  in  that  day  there  shall  be  a 

20  great  shaking  in  the  land  of  Israel,  so  that  the  fishes  of 
the  sea,  and  the  birds  of  the  heavens,  and  the  beasts  of  the 
field,  and  every  creeping  thing  that  creepeth  upon  the 
ground,  and  all  the  men  that  are  upon  the  face  of  the 
earth,  shall  shake  at  my  presence  ;  and  the  mountains 
shall  be  thrown  down,  and  the  steep  places  shall  fall,  and 

21  every  wall  shall  fall  to  the  ground.  And  I  will  call  for  a 
sword  against  him  throughout  all  my  mountains,  saith  the 
Lord  Jehovah,  and  they  shall  all  turn  their  swords  against 

22  each  othen  And  I  will  contend  against  him  with  pesti- 
lence, and  with  blood  ;  and  overflowing  showers,  and  great 
hailstones,  fire  and  brimstone,  will  I  rain  upon  him  and  his 

23  hosts,  and  the  many  nations  that  are  with  him.  Thus 
will  I  show  myself  in  my  greatness  and  glory,  and  make 
myself  known  before  tlie  eyes  of  many  nations,  and  they 
shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah. 

1       And  do  thou,  son  of  man,  prophesy  against  Gog,  and 


234  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XXXIX. 

say,  Thus  saith  tlie  Lord  Jehovali  :  Beliold,  I  am  against 

2  thee,  O  Gog,  prince  of  Rosh,  Meshech,  and  Tubal!  I 
will  turn  thee,  and  lead  thee  about,  and  cause  thee  to 
come  up  from  the  regions  of  the  North,  and  bring  thee 

3  upon  the  mountains  of  Israel.  And  I  will  smite  thy  bow 
out  of  thy  left  hand,  and  cause  thine  arrows  to  fall  out  of 

4  thy  right  hand.  Thou  shalt  fall  upon  the  mountains  of 
Israel,  thou  and  all  thy  hosts,  and  the  nations  that  are 
with  thee.  To  the  ravenous  birds  of  every  wing,  and 
to  the  beasts  of  the  forest,  give  I  thee  to  be  devoured. 

5  Thou  shalt  fall  upon  the  open  field ;  for  I  have  spoken 
it,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 

6  And  I  will  send  a  fire  upon  Magog,  and  upon  them  that 
dwell  in  security  in  the  sea-coasts ;  and  they  shall  know 

7  that  I  am  Jehovah.  So  will  I  make  my  holy  name  known 
in  the  midst  of  my  people  Israel,  and  I  will  not  suffer  my 
holy  name  to  be  polluted  any  more ;  and  the  nations  shall 

8  know  that  I  am  Jehovah,  the  Holy  One  of  Israel.  Be- 
hold it  Cometh,  and  shall  be  done,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 
This  is  the  day  of  which  I  spake. 

9  Then  sliall  the  inhabitants  of  the  cities  of  Israel  go 
forth,  and  set  on  fire  and  burn  the  weapons,  the  shields 
and  the  bucklers,  the  bows  and  the  arrows,  the  hand-staves 
and  the  spears,  and  they  shall  make  fires  of  them  seven 

10  years.  They  shall  take  no  wood  from  the  field,  neither 
shall  they  cut  down  any  from  the  forests;  for  they  shall 
make  their  fires  of  the  weapons.  And  they  shall  spoil 
those  that  spoiled  them,  and  plunder  those  that  plundered 
them,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 

11  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day,  that  I  will  give 
to  Gog  a  place  there,  a  grave  in  Israel,  the  valley  of  the 
passengers  on  the  east  of  the  sea ;  and  it  shall  stop  the 
way  of  passengers.  There  shall  they  bury  Gog  and  all 
his  multitude,  and  they  shall  call  it  "  The  valley  of  the 

12  multitude  of  Gog."  And  seven  months  shall  the  house 
of  Israel  be  burying  them,  that  they  may  cleanse  the  land. 

13  Yea,  all  the  people  of  the  land  shall  bury  them ;  and  it 
shall  be  renown  to  them,  in  the  day  when  I  shall  be  glori- 

14  fied,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah.  And  they  shall  set  apart 
men  to  be  constantly  employed,  who,  passing  through  the 
land,  with  the  aid  of  those  that  pass  by,  shall  bury  those 


CH.  XXXIX.]  EZEKIEL.  235 

that  remain  upon  the  face  of  the  land  to  cleanse  it ;  at 

15  the  end  of  the  seven  months  shall  they  search.  And 
when  any  of  the  travellers  that  jDass  through  the  land 
shall  see  a  man's  bone,  they  shall  set  up  a  sign  by  it,  till 
the  buriers  have  buried  it  in  the  valley  of  the  multitude  of 

16  Gog.  Also  the  name  of  a  city  shall  be  Multitude.  Thus 
shall  they  cleanse  the  land. 

17  And  thou,  son  of  man,  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah : 
Say  to  the  birds  of  every  wing,  and  to  every  beast  of  the 
field,  Assemble  yourselves  and  come,  gather  yourselves 
from  every  side  to  my  sacrifice  which  I  make  for  you,  a 
great  sacrifice  upon  the  mountains  of  Israel ;  and  ye  shall 

18  eat  flesh  and  drink  blood ;  the  flesh  of  the  mighty  shall 
ye  eat,  and  the  blood  of  the  princes  of  the  earth  shall  ye 
drink,  of  rams,  of  lambs,  and  of  goats,  of  bullocks,  all  of 

19  them  fatted  in  Bashan.  And  ye  shall  eat  fat  till  ye  be 
full,  and  drink  blood  till  ye  be  drunken,  of  my  sacrifice 

20  which  I  make  for  you.  Thus  shall  ye  be  filled  at  my 
table  with  horses  and  riders,  and  mighty  men  and  war- 

21  riors  of  all  kinds,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah.  And  I  will 
set  my  glory  among  the  nations,  and  all  the  nations  shall 
see  my  judgment  which  I  have  executed,  and  my  hand 

22  which  I  have  laid  upon  them.  And  the  house  of  Israel 
shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah,  their  God,  from  that  day 

23  and  forward.  And  the  nations  shall  know  that  the  house 
of  Israel  were  carried  into  captivity  for  their  iniquity. 
Because  they  trespassed  against  me,  therefore  hid  I  my 
face  from  them,  and   gave  them  into  the  hand  of  their 

24  enemies,  so  that  they  all  fell  by  the  sword.  According 
to  their  uncleanness  and  according  to  their  transgressions 
have  I  dealt  with  them,  and  hid  my  face  from  them. 

25  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  I  will  bring 
back  the  captives  of  Jacob,  and  have  compassion  upon  the 
whole  house  of  Israel,  and  be  jealous  for  my  holy  name. 

26  Then  shall  they  forget  their  shame  and  all  their  trespasses 
with  which  they  trespassed  against  me,  when  they  dwell  in 
security  in  their  own  land,  and  none  maketh  them  afraid. 

27  When  I  bring  them  back  from  the  nations,  and  gather 
them  from  the  lands  of  their  enemies,  then  will  I  be  glori- 
fied in  regard  to  them  before  the  eyes  of  many  nations. 

28  And  they  shall  know  that  I  am  Jehovah  their  God,  in 


236  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XL. 

that  I  caused  them  to  be  carried  into  captivity  amonp-  the 
nations,  and  gathered  them  into  their  own  land,  and  left 
29  none  of  them  there.  And  I  will  hide  my  face  fron:.  chem 
no  more ;  for  I  have  poured  out  my  spirit  upou  the  aouse 
of  Israel,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 


XXX. 

A  representation  of  the  Jewish  commonwealth,  the  temple  and  its  services, 
the  city  of  Jerusalem,  the  distribution  of  the  country  among  the  twelve 
tribes,  as  they  should  be  after  the  exile.  —  Ch.  XL.  —  XLVUI. 


The  courts  and  doors  of  the  temple.  —  Ch.  XL. 

1  In  the  five  and  twentieth  year  of  our  captivity,  in  the 
first  month,  on  tlie  tenth  day  of  the  month,  in  the  four- 
teenth year  after  that  the  city  was  smitten,  on  the  self- 
same day  the  hand  of  Jehovah  was   upon    me,  and   he 

2  brought  me  [thither  into  the  city].  In  the  visions  of  God 
he  brought  me  into  the  land  of  Israel,  and  set  me  upon  a 
very  high  mountain,  upon  which  was,  as  it  were,  the  frame 

3  of  a  city  toward  the  south.  And  when  he  had  brought 
me  thither,  behold,  there  was  a  man,  whose  appearance 
was  as  the  appearance  of  brass,  with  a  line  of  flax  in  his 
hand,  and  a  measuring-reed ;   and  he  stood  in  the  gate. 

4  And  the  man  said  to  me.  Son  of  man,  behold  with  thine 
eyes  and  hear  with  thine  ears,  and  give  heed  to  all  which 
I  shall  show  thee;  for  to  the  intent  that  I  might  show 
them  to  thee  art  thou  brought  hither;  declare  all  which 
thou  seest  to  the  house  of  Israel ! 

5  And  behold,  a  wall  on  the  outside  of  the  house  round 
about,  and  in  the  man's  hand  a  measuring  reed,  in  length 
six  cubits  of  a  cubit  and  a  handbreadth;  and  he  meas- 
ured the  breadth  of  the  wall,  one  reed;  and  the  height, 

6  one  reed.  Then  came  he  to  the  gate,  which  looked  to- 
ward the  east,  and  went  up  the  steps  thereof,  and  meas- 
ured the  upper  threshold  of  the  gate,  one  reed  broad,  and 

7  the  other  threshold  of  the  gate  one  reed   broad.     And 


*^H.  XL.]  EZEKIEL.  237 

every  chamber  was  one  reed  long,  and  one  reed  broad ; 

and   between    the  chambers  were    five   cubits;    and   the 

threshold  of  the  gate  by  the  porch  of  the  gate  within  was 
S  one  reed.  He  measured  also  the  porch  of  the  gate  within, 
9  one  reed.     Then  he  measured  the  porch  of  the  gate,  eight 

cubits  ;  and  the  border  thereof,  two  cubits  ;  now  the  porch 

10  of  the  gate  was  inward.  And  the  chambers  of  the  gate 
eastward  were  three  on  this  side,  and  three  on  that  sfde ; 
they  three  were  of  one  measure,  and  the  projecting  wall- 
pillars  were  of  one  measure  on  this  side,  and  on  that  side. 

11  And  he  measured  the  breadth  of  the  entry  of  the  gate,  ten 
cubits ;  and  the  length  of  the  entry  of  the  gate,  thirteen 

12  cubits.  There  was  also  a  space  before  the  chambers  one 
cubit  on  this  side,  and  a  space  one  cubit  on  that  side ;  and 
every  chamber  was  six  cubits  on  this  side,  and  six  cubits 

13  on  that  side.  Then  he  measured  the  gate  from  the  roof 
of  one  chamber  to  the  roof  of  another;  the  breadth  was 
five  and  twenty  cubits,  and  door  was  over  against  door. 

14  He  made  also  wall-pillars  sixty  cubits,  and  toward  the 
pillars  was  the  court  of  the  gate  round  about  on  every 

15  side.  And  from  the  front  of  the  gate  of  the  entrance  to 
the  front  of  the  porch  of  the  inner  gate  were  fifty  cubits. 

16  And  there  were  closed  windows  to  the  chambers  and  to 
their  wall-pillars  inward  toward  the  gate  round  about,  and 
likevyise  to  the  cornices ;  there  were  windows  round  about 
within,  and  upon  the  wall-pillars  were  palm-trees. 

17  Then  he  brought  me  into  the  outer  court,  and  behold, 
there  were  rooms,  and  a  pavement  made  for  the  court 
round   about;    thirty   rooms   were   upon   the    pavement. 

18  And  the  pavement  at  the  sides  of  the  gates,  by  the  length 

19  of  the  gates,  was  the  lower  pavement.  Then  he  measured 
the  breadth  from  the  front  of  the  lower  gate  to  the  front 
of  the  inner  court  without,  a  hundred  cubits  toward  the 
east  and  toward  the  north. 

20  And  as  for  the  gate  that  looked  toward  the  north  in 
the  outer  court,  he  measured  the  length  thereof,  and  the 

21  breadth  thereof.  And  the  chambers  thereof  were  three 
on  this  side,  and  three  on  that  side.  And  the  border 
thereof,  and  the  cornices  thereof,  were  of  the  same  meas- 
ure as  the  former  gate ;  the  length  thereof  was  fifty  cubits, 

22  and  the  breadth  five  and  twenty  cubits      And  the  win- 


238  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XL 

dows  thereof,  and  the  cornices  thereofj  and  the  palm-trees 
thereof  were  of  the  same  measure  as  the  gate  which 
looked  toward  the  east,  and  they  went  up  to  it  by  seven 

23  steps,  and  the  cornices  thereof  were  before  them.  And 
the  gate  of  the  inner  court  was  over  against  the  gate  to- 
ward the  north  and  east.  And  he  measured  from  gate  to 
gate  a  hundred  cubits. 

24  Then  he  led  me  toward  the  south  ;  and  behold,  there 
was  a  gate  toward  the  south ;  and  he  measured  the  bor- 
der thereof  and  the  cornices  thereof  according  to  those 

25  measures.  And  there  were  windows  in  it,  and  within  the 
cornices  thereof  round  about,  like  those  windows ;  the 
length  was  fifty  cubits,  and  the  breadth  five  and  twenty 

26  cubits.  And  there  were  seven  steps  to  go  up  to  it,  and 
the  cornices  thereof  were  before  them ;  and  it  had  palm- 
trees,  one  on  this  side  and  another  on  that  side,  upon  the 

27  wall-pillars  thereof.  And  there  was  a  gate  in  the  inner 
court  toward  the  south  ;  and  he  measured  from  gate  to 
gate  toward  the  south  a  hundred  cubits. 

28  And  he  brought  me  to  the  inner  court  through  the 
south  gate ;  and  he  measured  the  south  gate  according  to 

29  the  same  measures.  And  the  chambers  thereof,  and  the 
border  thereof,  and  the  cornices  thereof  were  according  to 
those  measures.  And  there  were  windows  in  it,  and 
within  the  cornices  thereof,  round  about ;  it  was  fifty  cu- 

30  bits  long,  and  five  and  twenty  cubits  broad.  And  the 
cornices  round  about  were  five  and   twenty  cubits  long, 

31  and  five  cubits  broad.  And  the  cornices  thereof  were 
toward  the  outer  court;  and  palm-trees  were  upon  the 
wall-pillars  thereof;  and  in  going  up  to  it  there  were 
eight  steps. 

32  And  he  brought  me  to  the  inner  court  toward  the  east ; 
and  he  measured  the  gate  according  to  those  measures. 

33  And  the  chambers  thereof,  and  the  border  thereof,  and 
the  cornices  thereof,  were  according  to  those  measures ; 
and  there  were  windows  in  it,  and  in  the  cornices  thereof, 
round  about ;  the  length  was  fifty  cubits,  and  the  breadth 

34  five  and  twenty  cubits.  And  the  cornices  thereof  were 
toward  the  outer  court ;  and  palm-trees  were  upon  the 
wall-pillars  thereof,  on  this  side  and  on  that  side ;  and  in 
going  up  to  it  there  were  eight  steps. 


CH.  XL,]  EZEKIEL.  289 

35  And  he  brought  me  to  the  north  gate,  and  measured  it 

36  according  to  those  measures ;  the  chambers  thereof,  and 
the  border  thereof,  and  the  cornices  thereof;  and  there 
were  windows  to  it,  round  about;    the  length  was  fifty 

37  cubits,  and  the  breadth  five  and  twenty  cubits.  And  the 
cornices  thereof  were  toward  the  outer  court ;  and  palm- 
trees  were  upon  the  wall-pillars  thereof,  on  this  side  and 
on  that  side ;  and  in  going  up  to  it  there  were  eight  steps. 

38  And  a  room  with  its  doors  was  by  the  borders  of  the 
35  gates,  where  they  washed  the  burnt-offering.     And  in  the 

porch  of  the  gate  were  two  tables  on  this  side,  and  two 
tables  on  that  side,  to  slay  thereon  the  burnt-offering,  and 

40  the  sin-offering,  and  the  trespass-offering.  And  at  the 
side  without,  as  one  goeth  up  to  the  entrance  of  the  north 

'    gate,  were  two  tables ;  and  on  the  other  side,  which  was 

41  at  the  porch  of  the  gate,  were  two  tables  ;  four  tables  were 
on  this  side,  and  four  tables  on  that  side ;  on  the  other 
side  of  the  gate   eight  tables,  whereon    they  slew  their 

42  sacrifices.  And  the  four  tables  for  the  burnt-offering 
were  of  hewn  stone ;  their  length  was  a  cubit  and  a  half, 
and  their  breadth  a  cubit  and  a  half,  and  their  height  a 
cubit.     Thereon   they  laid    the    instruments   with  which 

43  they  slew  the  burnt-offering  and  the  sacrifice.  And  there 
were  edging-boards  of  a  handbreadth,  prepared  within 
round  about;  and  upon  the  tables  was  the  flesh  of  the 
offering. 

44  And  without  the  inner  gate  were  rooms  for  the  singers ' 
in  the  inner  court ;  they  were  at  the  side  of  the  north 
gate,  and  their  prospect  was  toward  the  south ;  one  at  the 
side  of  the  east  gate  having  the  prospect  toward  the  north. 

45  And  he  said  to  me.  This  room,  whose  prospect  is  toward 
the  south,  is  for  the  priests  that  keep  the  charge  of  the 

46  house.  And  the  room  whose  prospect  is  toward  the 
north  is  for  the  priests  that  keep  the  charge  of  the  altar. 
These  are  the  sons  of  Zadok,  who,  among  the  sons  of 

47  Levi,  come  near  to  Jehovah  to  minister  to  him.  Then 
he  measured  the  court ;  its  length  was  a  hundred  cubits, 
and  its  breadth  a  hundred  cubits,  being  square.  And  the 
altar  stood  before  the  house. 

48  Then  he  brought  me  to  the  porch  of  the  temple,  and  he 


240  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XLi 

measured  the  door-border  of  the  porch,  five  cubits  on  this 
side,  and  live  cubits  on  that  side.  And  the  breadth  of 
the  gate  was  three  cubits  on  this  side,  and  three  cubits  on 
49  that  side.  The  length  of  the  porch  was  twenty  cubits, 
and  the  breadth  eleven  cubits ;  and  they  went  up  to  it  by 
steps.  And  there  were  columns  by  the  door-border,  one 
on  this  side,  and  another  on  that  side. 


2. 

The  various  parts  of  the  temple.  —  Ch.  XLI. 

1  Afterwards  he  brought  me  to  the  temple ;  and  he 
measured  the  projecting  wall-pillars,  six  cubits  broad  on 
this  side,  and  six  cubits  broad  on  that  side,  according  to 

2  the  breadth  of  the  house.  And  the  breadth  of  the  door 
was  ten  cubits ;  and  the  sides  of  the  door  were  five  cubits 
on  this  side,  and  five  cubits  on  tliat  side.  Then  he  meas- 
ured  the   length,  forty  cubits,  and   the   breadth,  twenty 

3  cubits.  And  he  went  inward,  and  measured  the  border 
of  the  door,  two  cubits ;  and  the  door,  six  cubits ;  and  the 
breadth  of  the  door,  seven  cubits. 

4  Then  he  measured  twenty  cubits  in  length,  and  twenty 
cubits  in  breadth  in  the  temple,  and  said  to  me,  This  is 

5  the  most  holy  place.  And  he  measured  the  wall  of  the 
house,  six  cubits ;  and  the  breadth  of  every  side-chamber, 

6  four  cubits  round  about,  round  about  the  house.  And  the 
side-chambers  were  chamber  to  chamber,  three  and  thirty 
times  ;  and  they  entered  into  the  wall  of  the  house  of  the 
side-chambers  round  about,  and  were  connected  with  it; 
but  they  were  not  connected  with  the  wall  of  the  house. 

7  And  the  side-chambers  became  wider  upward,  having  a 
winding  ascent.  For  the  circuit  of  the  house  went  still 
upward,  round  about  the  house  ;  therefore  the  greater 
breadth  of  the  house  was  upward ;  and  so  they  ascended 
from  the  lowest  story  to  the  highest  through  the  middle 

8  story.  I  saw  also  the  height  of  the  house  round  about ; 
the  foundations  of  the  side-chambers  were  a  full  reed,  six 

9  cubits  to  the  knuckles.  The  thickness  of  the  wall  of  the 
side-chambers  outward  was  five  cubits,  and  the  space 
which  was  left  was  the  place  of  the  side-chambers  of  the 

10  house.     And   between   the   rooms   was   the   breadth    of 


C"- ^"J  EZEKIEL.  241 

t/^"ty   cubits   round    about   tlie   house   on   every   side. 

11  And  the  doors  of  the  side-chambers  were  toward  the 
space  that  was  left,  one  door  toward  the  north,  and  an- 
other door  toward  the  south;  and  the  breadth  of  the 
space  that  was  left  was  five  cubits  round  about 

12  And  the  building  which  was  before  the  separate  place, 
at  the  side  toward  the  west,  was  seventy  cubits  broad 
and  the  wall  of  the  building  was  five  cubits  thick  round 

13  about,  and  the  length  thereof  was  ninety  cubits.  Then 
he  measured  the  length  of  the  house,  a  hundred  cubits ; 
and  the  length  of  the  separate  place  and  the  buildino-  and 

14  the  walls  thereof,  a  hundred  cubits.  Also  the  breadth 
towards  the  front  of  the  house  and  of  the  separate  place 

15  toward  the  east  was  a  hundred  cubits.  And  he  measured 
the  length  of  the  building  before  the  separate  place,  and 
that  which  was  behind  it,  and  the  galleries  thereof  on  this 
side  and  on  that  side,  a  hundred  cubits  ;  and  the  inner 

16  emple,  and  the  porches  of  the  court,  the  thresholds,  and 
tiie  windows  that  were  closed,  and  the  galleries  round 
about  the  three  sides.  Over  against  the  threshold  was  a 
table  of  wood  round  about,  from  the  ground  to  the  win- 

17  dows,  and  the  windows  were  covered  with  it;  upon  the 
space  above  every  door,  and  upon  the  inner  house,  and 
without,  and  upon  all  the  wall  round  about  within  and 
witliout,  according  to  measure. 

18  And  cherubs  and  palm-trees  were  made,  one  palm-tree 

,Q  .r^LTf        .^^'"^''  ^""^  ^^^"^  ^^^^"b  ^^d  t^'o  faces; 

19  and  the  face  of  a  man  was  toward  a  palm-tree  on  one  side 
and  the  face  of  a  lion  toward  a  palm-tree  on  the  other 
side,     bo  was  it  made  upon  all  the  house  round  about. 

20  From  the  ground   to  above  the  door  were  cherubs  and 

21  palm-trees  made,  and  on  the  wall  of  the  temple.  The 
posts  of  the  temple  were  four-square ;  and  the  front  of  the 
sanctuary  had  the  same  appearance. 

22  The  altar  was  of  wood,  three  cubits  high,  and  two 
cubits  long ;  and  the  corners  thereof  and  the  base  thereof 

o,  ^i    ^^^?^^^"Vhereof  were  of  wood.     And  he  said  to  me, 

23  This  IS  the  table  that  standeth  before  Jehovah.     And  the 

24  temple  and  the  sanctuary  had  two  doors.  And  the  two 
doors   had  two  leaves  apiece,  two  turning  leaves;   two 

o.   aT!v.       ''"^  ^^^''  ^°^  *^"^  ^^^''^'  f«^  the  other  door. 

25  And  there  were  made  on  them,  even  on  the  doors  of  the 

VOL,  II.  11 


242  EZEKIEL.  [en.  XMi. 

temple,  cherubs  and  palm-trees,  sucli  as  were  made  upon 
the  walls,  and  a  wooden  threshold  was  before  the  porch 
26  without.  And  at  the  closed  windows  were  palm-trees  on 
this  side,  and  on  that  side,  on  the  sides  of  the  porch,  and 
on  the  side-chambers  of  the  house,  and  on  the  thresholds. 


3. 

The  buildings  connected  with  the  temple.  —  Ch.  XLII. 

1  Then  he  led  me  forth  to  the  outer  court,  in  the  direc- 
tion toward  the  north,  and  he  brought  me  to  the  rooms 
which  were   before   the  separate  place,   and   before   the 

2  building  toward  the  north.  The  length  was  a  hundred 
cubits  before  the  gate  toward  the  north,  and  the  breadth 

3  was  fifty  cubits ;  over  against  the  twenty  cubits  in  the 
inner  court,  and  over  against  the  pavement  in  the  outer 

4  court,  was  gallery  before  gallery,  in  three  rows.  And  be- 
fore the  chambers  was  a  walk  often  cubits  breadth  inward, 
a  way  of  one  cubit;  and  their  doors  were  toward  the  north. 

5  And  the  upper  rooms  were  narrower  (for  the  galleries  took 
away  room  from  them)  than  the  lower  and  middle  cham- 

6  bers  of  the  building.  For  tliey  were  in  three  stories  ;  but 
had  not  pillars,  as  tlie  pillars  of  the  courts ;  therefore  they 
were  narrower  than  the  lowest,  and  than  the  middlemost 

7  from  the  ground.  And  as  to  the  wall  that  was  without, 
over  against  the  chambers,  toward  the  outer  court,  before 

8  the  chambers,  the  length  thereof  was  fifty  cubits.  For 
the  length  of  the  rooms  that  were  in  the  outer  court  was 
fifty  cubits ;   but   before  the  temple  it  was   an    hundred 

9  cubits.     And  under  these  rooms  was  an  entry  from  the 

10  east,  as  one  came  to  them  from  the  outer  court.  In  the 
breadth  of  the  wall  of  the  court  toward  the  east,  before 
the  separate  place  and  before  the  building,  were  rooms. 

11  And  there  was  a  way  before  them  similar  to  that  before 
the  rooms  toward  the  north.  Both  their  length  and  their 
breadth  were  the  same,  and  all  their  goings  out  and  their 

12  fashions  and  their  doois  were  the  same.  And  so  also 
were  the  doors  of  the  rooms  toward  the  south ;  there  was 
a  door  at  the  head  of  the  way,  before  the  well-built  wall, 
in  the  way  toward  the  east,  as  one  entered  into  them. 

13  Then  he  said  to  me,  The  north  rooms  and  the  south 


CH.  XLiri-l  EZEKIEL.  243 

rooms,  which  are  before  the  separate  place,  are  holy 
rooms,  where  the  priests,  when  they  come  near  to  Jeho- 
vah, eat  the  most  holy  things.  There  shall  they  lay  the 
most  holy  things,  both  the  flour-offering  and  the  sin-ofFer- 
ing   and    the    trespass-offering;    for   the    place   is    holy. 

14  When  the  priests  enter  therein,  then  shall  they  not  go  out 
of  the  holy  place  into  the  outer  court,  but  shall  leave  there 
the  garments  in  which  they  minister ;  for  they  are  holy ; 
and  shall  put  on  other  garments,  and  approach  to  the  place 
which  belongeth  to  the  people. 

15  Now  when  he  had  made  an  end  of  measuring  the  inner 
house,  he  brought  me  forth  to  the  gate,  whose  prospect  is 

16  toward  the  east,  and  measured  it  round  about.  He  meas- 
ured the  east  side  with  the  measuring-reed,  five  hundred 

17  reeds  with  the  measuring-reed  round  about.  He  meas- 
ured the  north  side  five  hundred  reeds  with  the  measur- 

18  ing-reed  round  about.     He  measured  the  south  side  five 

19  hundred  reeds  with  the  measuring-reed.  He  turned  him- 
self also  to  the  west  side,  and  measured  five  hundred  reeds 

20  with  the  measuring-reed.  On  all  the  four  sides  measured 
he  the  wall  round  about  five  hundred  reeds  in  length,  and 
five  hundred  in  breadth,  to  make  a  separation  between  the 
holy  and  the  unholy  place. 

4. 

The  entrance  of  Jehovah  into  the  temple.  —  Ch.  XLIII.  1  - 12. 

1  Then  he  brought  me  to  the  gate,  even  to  the  gate  that 

2  looketh  toward  the  east.  And  behold,  the  glory  of  the 
God  of  Israel  came  from  the  east ;  and  the  sound  thereof 
was  as  the  sound  of  great  waters,  and  the  earth  shone  with 

3  his  glory.  And  the  appearance  was  like  the  vision  which 
I  saw,  like  the  vision  which  I  saw  when  I  came  to  destroy 
the  city ;  it  was  a  vision  like  the  vision  which  1  saw  at  the 
river  Chebar.     And  I  fell  upon  my  face. 

4  And  the  glory  of  Jehovah  came  into  the  house  by  the 

5  way  of  the  gate,  whose  prospect  was  toward  the  east.  Then 
the  spirit  took  me  up  and  brought  me  into  the  inner  court ; 

6  and  behold,  the  glory  of  Jehovah  filled  the  house.  And  I 
heard  one  speaking  to  me  out  of  the  house,  and  a  man 


244  EZEKIEL.  [cH.  XLiii. 

7  was  standing  by  me.  And  he  said  to  me :  Son  of  man, 
this  is  the  place  of  my  throne,  and  the  place  of  the  soles 
of  my  feet,  where  I  will  dwell  in  the  midst  of  the  sons  of 
Israel  forever ;  and  the  house  of  Israel  shall  no  more  pol- 
lute my  holy  name,  neither  they  nor  their  kings,  by  their 
fornication,  and  by  the  dead  bodies  of  their  kings  in  their 

8  sepulchres ;  in  that  they  set  their  threshold  by  my  thresh- 
old, and  their  post  near  my  post,  so  that  there  was  only  a 
wall  between  me  and  them,  and  defiled  my  holy  name  by 
the  abominations  which  they  committed  ;  wherefore  I  have 

9  consumed  them  in  my  anger.  Now  let  them  remove  far 
away  from  me  their  fornication,  and  the  carcas.-es  of  their 
kings ;  and  I  will  dwell  in  the  midst  of  them  forever. 

10  And  thou,  son  of  man,  show  this  house  to  the  house  of 
Israel,  that  they  may  be  ashamed  of  their  iniquities,  and 

11  that  they  may  measure  the  })attern.  And  if  they  be 
ashamed  of  all  which  they  have  done,  let  them  know  the 
form  of  the  house  and  the  fashion  thereof,  and  the  passages 
for  going  out  and  coming  in,  and  all  the  forms  thereof, 
and  all  the  statutes  thereof,  and  all  the  laws  thereof,  and 
write  it  in  their  siglit,  that  they  may  keep  the  whole  form 

12  thereof,  and  all  the  statutes  thereof,  and  do  them.  This  is 
the  law  of  the  house.  Upon  the  top  of  the  mountain,  all 
within  its  limits  shall  be  most  holy.  Behold,  this  is  the 
law  of  the  house. 

5. 

The  altar  of  burnt-offering.  —  Cn.  XLIII.  13  -  27. 

13  And  these  are  the  measures  of  the  altar  by  cubits; 
each  cubit  being  a  cubit  and  a  hand-breadth.  The  bottom 
shall  be  a  cubit  high  and  a  cubit  broad  ;  and  the  border 
thereof,  by  the  edge  thereof  round  about,  shall  be  a  span  ; 

14  and  this  shall  be  the  outer  part  of  the  altar.  And  from 
the  bottom  upon  the  ground  to  the  lower  ledge  shall  be 
two  cubits,  and  the  breadth  one  cubit ;  and  from  the  lesser 
kdge  to  the  greater  ledge  shall  be  four  cubits,  and  the 

15  breadth  a  cubit.     And  the  altar  shall  be  four  cubits,  and 

16  from  the  altar  upward  shall  be  four  horns.  And  tlie  altar 
shall  be  twelve  cubits  long  by  twelve  broad ;  square  on 

17  the  four  sides  thereof.     And  the  ledge  shall  be  fourteen 


CH.  XLiv.]  EZEKIEL.  245 

cubits  long  by  fourteen  bi-oad  on  the  four  sides  thereof; 
and  the  border  about  it  shall  be  half  a  cubit ;  and  the  bot- 
tom thereof  shall  be  a  cubit  round  about ;  and  its  steps 
shall  look  toward  the  east. 

18  And  he  said  to  me,  Son  of  man,  thus  saith  the  Lord 
Jehovah :  These  are  the  statutes  of  the  altar,  in  the  day 
when  it  is  made,  to  offer  burnt-offerings  thereon,  and  to 

19  sprinkle  blood  tliereon.  To  the  priests,  the  sons  of  Levi, 
of  the  race  of  Zadok,  that  come  near  to  me,  saith  the  Lord 
Jehovah,  to  minister  to  me,  thou  shalt  give  a  young  bul- 

20  lock  for  a  sin-offering.  And  thou  shalt  take  of  the"  blood 
thereof,  and  put  it  on  its  four  horns,  and  on  the  four  cor- 
ners of  the  ledge,  and  on  the  border  round  about,  and  thus 

21  cleanse  and  purge  it.  And  thou  shalt  take  the  bullock  of 
the  sin-offering,  and  it  shall  be  burned  in  the  appointed 

22  place  of  the  house,  witliout  the  sanctuary.  And  on  the 
second  day  thou  shalt  offer  a  he-goat  without  blemish  for 
a  sin-offering ;  and  they  shall  cleanse  the  altar,  as  they 

23  cleansed  it  with  the  bullock.  And  when  thou  hast  made 
an  end  of  cleansing  it,  thou  shalt  offer  a  young  bullock 
without   blemish,   and    a   ram  out  of  the    flock  without 

24  blemish.  And  thou  shalt  offer  them  before  Jehovah,  and 
the  priests  shall  cast  salt  upon  them,  and  offer  them  up  for 

25  a  burnt-offering  to  Jehovah.  Seven  days  shalt  thou  sac- 
rifice daily  a  goat  for  a  sin-offering ;  they  shall  also  sacri- 
fice a  young  bullock,  and  a  ram  out  of  the  flock  M'ithout 

26  blemish.     Seven  days  shall  they  purge  the  altar,  and  puri- 

27  fy  it,  and  consecrate  themselves.  And  when  they  have 
finished  these  days,  it  shall  be  that  on  the  eighth  day  and 
forward  the  priests  shall  present  your  burnt-offerings  and 
your  thank-offerings  upon  the  altar,  and  I  will  accept  you, 
saith  the  Lord  Jehovah, 


6. 

Divers  ordinances  for  the  priests.  —  Ch.  XLIV. 

1  Then  he  brought  me  back  to  the  outer  gate  of  the 
sanctuary,  which  looketh  toward    the    east;  and  it  was 

2  shut.  Then  said  Jehovah  to  me:  This  gate  shall  be 
shut;  it  shall  not  be  opened,  and  no  man  shall  enter  in 
by  it ;  because  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  entered  in  by 


243  EZEKIEL.  [cii.  XLiv. 

3  it,  therefore  it  shall  be  shut.  The  prince,  because  he  is 
prince,  shall  sit  in  it,  to  eat  food  before  Jehovah ;  he  shall 
enter  through  the  porch  of  that  gate,  and  by  the  same 
way  shall  he  go  out. 

4  Then  he  brought  me  to  the  north  gate  before  the  house; 
and  I  looked,  and  behold,  the  glory  of  Jehovah  filled  the 

5  house  of  Jehovah.  And  I  fell  upon  my  face.  And  Je- 
hovah said  to  me:  Son  of  man,  mark  well,  and  behold 
with  thine  eyes,  and  hear  with  tliine  ears  all  that  I  say  to 
thee  concerning  all  the  ordinances  of  the  house  of  Jeho- 
vah, and  all  the  laws  thereof;  and  mark  well  all  the  en- 
trances of  the  house,  and  all  the  outward  pa-sages  of  the 

6  sanctuary.  And  say  to  the  rebellious  house  of  Israel, 
Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah  :    Let  it  suffice  you  of  all 

7  your  abominations,  O  house  of  Israel,  in  that  ye  brought 
strangers,  uncircumcised  in  heart  and  uncircuracised  in 
flesh,  to  be  in  my  sanctuary,  so  that  ye  polluted  my  house 
when  ye  offered  my  food,  the  fat  and  the  blood,  and  broke 

8  my  covenant  by  all  your  abominations.  And  ye  kept 
not  the  charge  of  my  holy  place,  but  appointed  for  your- 
selves such  keepers  of  my  charge  in  my  sanctuary. 

9  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehov  ah  :  No  stranger,  uncircum- 
cised in  heart  and  uncircumcised  in  flesh,  shall  enter  into 
my  sanctuary,  of  all  the  strangers  that  are  among  the  sons 

10  of  Israel.  But  even  the  Levites,  who  departed  from  me 
when  Israel  went  astray,  who  went  astray  from  me  after 

11  their  idols,  shall  bear  their  iniquity.  Yet  they  shall  be 
ministers  in  my  sanctuary,  having  charge  at  the  gates  of 
the  house,  and  ministering  at  the  house  ;  they  shall  slay 
the  burnt-offering  and  sacrifice  for  the  people,  and  they 

Vi  shall  stand  before  them  to  minister  to  them.  Because 
they  ministered  to  them  before  their  idols,  and  caused  the 
house  of  Israel  to  fall  into  iniquity,  therefore  have  I  lifted 
up  my  hand  against  them,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah,  that 

13  they  shall  bear  their  iniquity.  And  they  shall  not  come 
near  to  me  to  do  the  office  of  a  priest  to  me,  and  to  come 
near  to  any  of  my  holy  things  in  the  most  holy  place , 
but  they  shall  bear  their  shame,  and  their  abominations 

14  which  they  have  committed.  But  I  will  make  them 
keepers  of  the  charge  of  the  house,  for  all  the  service 
thereof,  and  for  all  which  is  to  be  done  therein. 

15  But  the  priests,  the  Levites,  the  sons  of  Zadok,  that 


CU    XLiv.]  EZEKIEL.  247 

kept  the  charge  of  my  sanctuary  when  the  sons  of  Israel 
went  astray  fi-om  me,  *.hey  shall  come  near  to  me  to  min- 
ister to  me,  and  they  f^hall  stand  before  me  to  offer  to  mo 

16  the  fat  and  the  blooil,  saitli  the  Lord  Jehovah.  They 
shall  come  into  my  sanctuary,  and  they  shall  draw  near 
to  my  table  to  minister  to  me,  and  shall  keep  my  charge. 

17  And  when  they  enter  the  gates  of  the  inner  court,  they 
shall  be  clothed  with  linen  garments,  and  no  wool  shall 
come  upon  them  while  they  minister  in  the  gates  of  the 

18  inner  court,  and  within  the  house.  They  shall  have  linen 
coverings  upon  their  heads,  and  linen  breeches  upon  their 
loins ;  they  shall  not  gird  themselves  with  anything  that 

19  causeth  sweat.  And  wdien  they  go  forth  into  the  outuf 
court,  even  into  the  outer  court  to  the  people,  they  shall 
put  off  their  garments  in  which  they  ministered,  and  lay 
them  in  the  holy  rooms,  and  shall  clothe  themselves  witU 
other  garments,  that  they  jnay  not  sanctify   the  peopla 

20  with  their  garments.  They  shall  neither  shave  their 
heads,  nor  suffer  their  locks   to  grow  long;  they  shall 

21  shear  their  heads.     And  no  priest  shall  drink  wine  when 

22  they  enter  into  the  inner  court.  Neither  shall  they  take 
for  their  wives  a  widow,  or  her  that  is  put  away  ;  but 
they  shall  take  virgins  of  the  race  of  the  house  of  Israel, 

23  or  a  widow  that  is  t!ie  widow  of  a  priest.  And  they  shall 
teach  my  people  the  diffei'ence  between  the  holy  and 
unholy,  and  cause  them  to  discern  between  the  unclean 

21  and  the  clean.  And  in  controversy  they  shall  stand  to 
judge ;  according  to  my  statutes  shall  they  judge.  And 
they  shall  keep  my  laws  and  my  statutes  in  all  my  fes- 

25  tivals,  and  they  shall  hidlow  my  sabbaths.  And  they 
shall  come  to  no  dead  person  to  defile  themselves;  but 
for  father,  or  for  mother,  or  for  son,  or  for  daughter,  for 
brother,  or  for  sister  that  hath  had  no  husband,  they  may 

26  defile   themselves.     And   after   his  cleansing  they   shall 

27  reckon  to  him  seven  days.  And  in  the  day  that  he  goeth 
into  the  sanctuary,  into  the  inner  court,  to  minister  in  the 
sanctuary,  he  shall  offer  his  sin-offering,  saith  the  Lord 
Jehovah. 

28  And  it  shall  be  to  them  for  an  inheritance,  that  I  am 
their  inheritance.     And  ye  shall  give  them  no  possession 

29  in  Israel ;  I  am  their  possession.  They  shall  eat  the 
flour-offering,  and  the  sin-offering,  and  the  trespass-offer- 


248  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XLV 

ing ;  and  every  dedicated  tiling  in  Israel  sliall  be  theirs. 

30  And  the  first  of  all  the  first-fruits,  and  every  oblation  of 
all  your  oblations,  shall  belong  to  the  priests.  Ye  shall 
also  give  to  the  priest  the  first  of  your  meal,  that  he  may 

31  cause  a  blessing  to  rest  on  thine  house.  The  priests  shall 
not  eat  of  anything  that  dieth  of  itself,  or  that  is  torn, 
whether  it  be  fowl  or  beast. 


The  division  of  the  land.    Weights  and  measures.     Offerings,  &c.  — 
Ch.  XLV. 

1  Moreover,  when  ye  shall  divide  by  lot  the  land  for 
inheritance,  ye  shall  offer  an  oblation  to  Jehovah,  a  holy 
portion  of  the  land  ;  the  length  shall  be  five  and  twenty 
thousand  reeds,  and  the  breadth  ten  thousand.    This  shall 

2  be  holy  in  all  its  borders  round  about.  And  of  this  there 
shall  be  for  the  sanctuary  five  hundred  in  length  and  five 
hundred  in  breadth  square  round  about ;  and  fifty  cubits 

3  round  about  for  the  suburbs  thereof.  And  of  this  meas- 
ure shalt  thou  measure  in  length  five  and  twenty  thou- 
sand, and  in  breadth  ten  thousand  ;  and  in  it  shall  be  the 

4  sanctuary,  the  most  holy  place.  This  is  the  holy  por- 
tion of  the  land  ;  it  shall  be  for  the  priests,  the  ministers 
of  the  sanctuary,  who  come  near  to  minister  to  Jehovah  ; 
and  it  shall  be  a  place  for  their  house.^,  and  a  holy  place 
for  the  sanctuary. 

5  Five  and  twenty  thousand  in  length,  and  ten  thousand 
in  breadth,  shall  the  Levites,  the  ministers  of  the  house, 
have  for  themselves  for  a  possession,  and  twenty  rooms. 

6  And  ye  shall  appoint  the  possession  of  the  city  five 
thousand  in  breadth,  and  five  and  twenty  thousand  in 
length,  over  against  the  oblation  of  the  holy  portion ;  it 
shall  be  for  all  the  house  of  Israel. 

7  And  a  portion  shall  be  for  the  prince  on  this  side  and 
on  that  side  of  the  oblation  of  the  lioly  portion  and  of  the 
possession  of  the  city,  before  the  oblation  of  the  holy  por- 
tion and  before  the  possession  of  the  city,  from  the  west 
side  westward,  and  from  the  east  side  eastward ;  and  the 
length  shall  be  over  against  every  one  of  the  portions, 

8  from  the  west  border  to  the  east   border.     As   for  the 


CH.  XL7.]  EZEKIEL.  2-19 

land,  it  shali  be  to  him  a  possession  in  Israel,  tliat  my 
princes  may  no  more  oppress  my  people,  but  give  the 
rest  of  the  land  to  the  house  of  Israel  according  to  their 
tribes. 
9  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah:  Let  it  suffice  you,  O 
princes  of  Israel !  Remove  violence  and  spoil,  and  exe- 
cute judgment  and  justice,  and  cease  from  your  expul- 

10  sions  of  my  people,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah.  Ye  shall 
have  just    balances,  and  a  just  ephah,  and  a  just  bath. 

11  The  ephah  and  the  bath  shall  be  of  one  measure;  that 
the  bath  may  contain  the  tenth  part  of  a  homer,  and  the 
ephah  the  tenth  part  of  a  homer;   the  measure  thereof 

12  shall  be  according  to  the  homer.  And  the  shekel  shall  be 
twenty  gerahs ;  twenty  shekels,  five  and  twenty  shekels, 
and  fifteen  shekels  shall  be  to  you  one  maneh. 

13  This  is  the  heave-offering  which  ye  shall  offer :  the  sixth 
part  of  an  ephah  out  of  a  homer  of  wheat,  and  the  sixth 

14  part  of  an  ephah  out  of  a  homer  of  barley.  And  as  foi 
the  statute  concerning  oil,  the  bath  of  oil,  ye  shall  offei 
the  tenth  part  of  a  bath  out  of  a  cor;  a  cor  being  ten 

15  baths  ;  for  a  homer  is  ten  baths.  And  ye  shall  offer  one 
lamb  out  of  the  flock,  out  of  two  hundred,  from  the  wa- 
tered pastures  of  Israel,  for  the  flour-offering  and  for  the 
burnt-offering,  and  for  the  thank-offerings,  to  make  recou- 

16  ciliation  for  them,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah.  All  the  peo- 
ple of  the  land  shall  give  this  heave-offering  for  the  prince 

17  in  Israel.  And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  tlie  prince  to  give 
burnt-offerings,  and  flour-offerings,  and  drink-offerings,  in 
the  feasts,  and  in  the  new  moons,  and  in  the  sabbaths, 
and  in  all  the  solemn  assemblies  of  the  house  of  Israel ; 
he  shall  present  the  sin-offering,  and  the  flour-offering, 
and  the  burnt-offering,  and  the  peace-offerings,  to  make 
reconciliation  for  the  house  of  Israel. 

18  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  In  the  first  month,  on 
the  first  day  of  the  month,  thou  shalt  take  a  young  bullock 

19  Avithout  blemish,  and  shalt  cleanse  the  sanctuary.  And 
the  priest  shall  take  of  the  blood  of  the  sin-offering,  and 
put  it  upon  the  posts  of  the  house,  and  upon  the  four  cor- 
ners of  the  ledge  of  the  altar,  and  upon  the  posts  of  the 

20  gate  of  the  inner  court.  And  so  shalt  thou  do  on  the 
seventh  day  for  him  that  hath  trans;]:ressed  through  error  or 
simplicity  ;  so  shall  ye  make  iccoiiciliat'on  for  the  house. 

11* 


250  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XLVi, 

21  In  the  first  month,  on  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  month, 
ye  shall  have  the  passover,  a  feast  of  seven  clays;  every 

22  one  shall  eat  unleavened  bread.  And  upon  that  day 
shall  the  prince  sacrifice  for  himself  and  for  all  the  peo- 

23  pie  of  the  land  a  bullock  for  a  sin-oifering.  And  the 
seven  days  of  the  feast  he  shall  sacrifice  a  burnt-offering 
to  Jehovah,  seven  bullocks  and  seven  rams  without  blem- 
ish daily  the  seven  days ;  and  a  he-goat  daily  for  a  sin- 

24  offering.  And  he  shall  present  a  flour-offering,  an  ephah 
for  a  bullock,  and  an  ephah  for  a  ram,  and  a  hin  of  oil  for 

25  an  ephah.  In  the  seventh  month,  on  the  fifteenth  day  of 
the  month,  shall  he  do  the  like,  in  the  feast,  seven  days, 
according  to  the  sin-oflTering,  and  the  burnt-offering,  and 
the  flour-offering,  and  the  oil. 


Various  ordinances  concerning  offerings,  festivals,  the  prince,  the  place  of 
the  cooks,  &c.  —  Ch.  XLVI. 

1  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  The  gate  of  the  inner 
court,  that  looketh  toward  the  east,  shall  be  shut  the  six 
working-days  ;  but  on  the  sabbath  it  shall  be  opened,  and 

2  on  the  day  of  the  new  moon  it  shall  be  opened.  And  the 
prince  shall  enter  by  the  way  of  the  porch  of  the  outer 
gate,  and  shall  stand  by  the  post  of  the  gate,  and  the 
priests  shall  present  his  burnt-offerings,  and  his  peace- 
offerings,  and  he  shall  worship  at  the  threshold  of  the 
gate ;  then  he  sliall  go  forth ;  but  the  gate  shall  not  be 

3  shut  until  the  evening.  Likewise  the  people  of  the  land 
shall  worship  at  the  door  of  this  gate  before  Jehovah  on 

4  the  sabbaths  and  on  the  new  moons.  And  the  burnt- 
offering,  which  the  prince  shall  offer  to  Jehovah  on  the 
sabbath-day,  shall   be  six  lambs  without  blemish,  and  a 

5  ram  without  blemish.  And  the  flour-offering  shall  be  an 
ephah  for  a  ram ;  and  the  flour-offering  for  the  lambs  as 
much  as  he  is  disposed  to  give ;  and  a  hin  of  oil  to  an 

6  ephah.  And  in  the  day  of  the  new  moon  there  shall  be  a 
young  bullock  without  blemish,  and  six  lambs  and  a  ram ; 

7  they  shall  be  without  blemish.  And  he  shall  present,  as  a 
flour-offering,  an  ephah  for  a  bullock,  and  an  ephah  for  a 
ram,  and  for  the  lambs  as  much  as  he  is  able  to  give ; 
and  a  hin  of  oil  to  an  ephah. 


CH.  XI  n.]  EZEKIEL.  251 

8  And  when  the  prhice  shall  enter,  he  shall  go  in  by  the 
way  of  tlie  porch  of  that  gate,  and  he  shall  go  forth  by 

9  the  way  thereoil  But  when  the  people  of  the  land  come 
before  Jehovah  in  the  solemn  feasts,  he  that  entereth  by 
the  wjiy  of  the  north  gate  to  woi-ship  shall  go  out  by  the 
way  of  the  south  gate ;  and  he  that'  entereth  by  the  way 
of  the  south  gate  shall  go  forth  by  the  way  of  the  nortii 
gate  ;  he  shall  not  return  by  the  way  of  the  gate  by  which 

10  he  entered,  but  shall  go  forth  over  against  it.  And  the 
prince  shall  go  in  in  the  midst  of  them  when  they  go  in, 
and  when  they  go  forth  shall  he  go  forth. 

11  And  in  the  feasts  and  in  the  solemn  assemblies  the 
flour-offering  shall  be  an  ephah  for  a  bullock,  and  an 
ephah  for  a  ram,  and  for  the  lambs  what  he  is  disposed  to 

12  give  ;  and  a  Iiin  of  oil  to  an  ephah.  And  when  the  prince 
shall  pre-ent  a  free-will  burnt-offering  or  a  free-will  thank- 
offering  to  Jehovah,  the  gate  that  looketh  toward  the  east 
shall  be  opened  for  him,  and  he  sliall  present  his  bui-nt- 
offering,  or  his  thank-offering,  as  he  was  wont  to  do  o:i 
the  sabbath-day;  tlien  he  siiall  go  forth,  and  the  gate 
shall  be  shut  after  he  hath  gone  forth. 

13  And  thou  shalt  present  for  a  burnt-offering  daily  to 
Jehovah    a   lamb    that  is  a  year   old   without    blemislj ; 

14  every  morning  shalt  thou  present  it.  And  thou  shalt 
present  with  it  every  morning  a  flour-offering,  t!ie  sixtli 
part  of  an  ephah,  and  the  third  part  of  a  bin  of  oil  to 
moisten  the  fine  flour,  for  a  flour-offering  to  Jehovah,  by 

15  a  perpetual  statute  continually.  Thus  shall  they  prepare 
the  lamb,  and  the  flour-offering,  and  the  oil,  every  morn- 


16  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah :  If  the  prince  give  a  gil"t 
to  any  of  his  sons,  the  inheritance  thereof  sliall  belong  to 

17  his  sons;  it  shall  be  their  possession  by  inheritance.  But 
if  he  give  a  gift  of  his  inheritance  to  one  of  his  servants, 
it  shall  be  his  to  the  year  of  liberty,  when  it  shall  retui-n 
to  the  prince.     But  his  inheritance  given  to  his  sons  shall 

13  be  theirs.  And  the  prince  shall  not  take  of  the  people's 
inheritance,  to  thrust  them  out  of  their  possession ;  but 
he  shall  give  an  inheritance  to  his  sons  out  of  his  own 
posiession  ;  that  no  one  of  my  people  may  be  driver,  from 
his  possession. 


252  EZEKIEL.  [CH  XLvn. 

19  Then  he  brought  me  through  the  entry,  which  was  at 
the  side  of  the  gate,  into  the  holy  rooms  for  the  priests, 
which  looked  toward  the  north  ;  and  behold,  there  was  a 

20  place  behind  toward  the  west.  And  he  said  to  me :  This 
is  the  place  where  the  priests  shall  boil  the  trespass-offer- 
ing, and  the  sin-oifering,  and  bake  the  flour-offering  ;  that 
they  may  not   bear   them    into  the  outer  court,  and   so 

21  sanctify  the  people.  Then  he  brought  me  forth  into  the 
outer  court,  and  caused  me  to  pass  by  the  four  corners  of 
the  court ;  and  behold,  there  was  a  court  in  every  corner 

22  of  the  court.  In  the  four  corners  of  the  court  were  cov- 
ered   courts    forty  cubits  long,  and    thirty  broad ;    these 

23  four  corners  were  of  one  measure.  And  there  was  in 
them  a  wall  round  about,  even  round  about  the  four;  and 
boihng-places  were  made  under  the  walls  round    about. 

24  Then  said  he  to  me,  These  are  the  places  of  them  that 
boil,  where  the  ministers  of  the  house  shall  boil  the  sacri- 
fice of  the  people. 


The  fountains  of  the  temple.— Ch.  XL VII.  1-12. 

1  Afterward  he  brought  me  again  to  the  door  of  the 
house  ;  and  behold,  waters  issued  forth  from  under  the 
threshold  of  tlie  house  eastward  ;  for  the  fore-front  of  the 
house  stood  toward  the  east.  And  the  waters  flowed 
down   from    the   side   of  the    house,  south    of  the  altar. 

2  Then  he  brought  me  out  by  the  way  of  the  gate  north- 
ward ;  and  he  brought  me  round  by  the  way  without  to 
tlie  outer  gate,  that  looked  toward  the  east;  and  behold, 
there  ran  out  waters  fi-om  the  right  side. 

3  And  when  the  man  that  had  the  line  in  his  hand  went 
forth  eastward,  he  measured  a  thousand  cubits,  and  he  led 
me  through  the  waters,  and  the  waters  were  to  the  soles 

4  of  the  feet.  Again  he  measured  a  thousand  cubits,  and 
led  me  through  the  waters,  and  the  waters  were  to  the 
knees.     Again  he  measured  a  thousand  cubits,  and  led 

5  me  through,  and  the  waters  were  to  the  loins.  Again  he 
measured  a  thousand  cubits,  and  it  was  a  river,  which  I 
could  not  pass  through  ;  for  the  waters  were  high,  wateis 
to  swim  in,  a  river  which  could  not  be  passed  llnough. 


en.  XLVii.]  EZEKTEL.  253 

6  And  he  said  to  me,  Hast  thou  seen  this,  son  of  man  ? 
Then   he  brought  me   back    to  the  brink   of  the  river. 

7  Now  when  I  had  returned,  behold,  at  the  brink  of  the 
river  were  very  many  trees,  on  the  one  side  and  on  the 

8  other.  Then  said  lie  to  me.  These  waters  issue  forth 
toward  the  east  region,  and  run  down  into  the  desert,  and 
go  into  the  sea ;  they  go  forth  into  the  sea,  and  the  wa- 

9  ters  shall  be  healed.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that 
every  living  thing  that  moveth,  whithersoever  the  river 
shall  come,  shall  live,  and  there  shall  be  very  many  fish 
there ;  for  when  these  waters  shall  come  thither,  [the 
waters  of  the  sea]  shall  be  healed,  and  everything  shall 

10  live  whither  the  river  cometh.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass 
that  fishers  shall  stand  upon  it ;  from  En-gedi  to  En- 
eglaim  shall  be  places  to  spread  nets ;  and  therein  shall 
be  fish  according  to  their  kinds,  like  the  fish  of  the  great 

11  sea,  exceeding  many.  But  the  miry  places  thereof,  and 
the  marshes  thereof,  shall  not  be  healed ;'  they  shall  be 

12  appointed  for  salt.  And  by  the  river,  upon  the  bank 
thereof,  on  this  side  and  on  that  side,  shall  grow  all  trees 
for  food,  whose  leaf  shall  not  fade,  and  whose  fruit  shall 
not  fail ;  every  month  shall  they  bring  forth  new  fruit ; 
because  their  waters  issue  forth  from  the  sanctuary.  And 
their  fruit  shall  be  for  food,  and  their  leaves  for  medicine. 

10. 

Divisions  and  boundaries  of  the  land.  —  Ch.  XLVII.  13  —  XL VIII. 

13  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah:  This  is  the  border, 
according  to  which  ye  shall  distribute  the  land  among  the 
twelve  tribes  of  Israel.     Joseph  shall  have  two  portions. 

14  And  ye  shall  inherit  it,  one  like  another.  For  I  have 
lifted  up  my  hand,  that  I  would  give  it  to  your  fathers ; 
and  this  land  shall  fall  to  you  for  an  inheritance. 

15  And  this  shall  be  the  border  of  the  land  toward  the 
north  side  :    from  the  great  sea  toward  the  way  of  Heth- 

16  Ion,  as  men  go  to  Zedad,  Hamath,  Berothah,  Sibraim, 
which  is  between  the  border  of  Damascus  and  the  border 
of  Hamath,  and  Hazar-hatticon,  which  is  by  the  coast  of 

17  Hauran.  And  the  border  from  the  sea  shall  be  Hazar- 
Enon,  the  border  of  Damascus  and  farther  northward,  and 


254  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XLViii. 

18  the  border  of  Hamath.  This  is  the  north  side.  And  the 
east  side  ye  shall  measure  between  Hauran  and  Damas- 
cus, and  between  Gilead  and  the  land  of  Israel  by  the 
Jordan,  from  the  border  to  the  east  sea.     This  is  the  east 

19  side.  And  the  south  side  southward  shall  be  from  Tamar 
to  the  waters  of  strife  in  Kadesh,  as  far  as  the  river  by 

20  the  great  sea.  This  is  the  south  side  southward.  And 
the  west  side  shall  be  the  great  sea,  from  the  border  till 
a  man  come  over  against  Hamath.     This  is  the  west  side. 

21  So  shall  ye  divide  this  land  among  you,  according  to 

22  the  tribes  of  Israel.  And  ye  shall  divide  it  by  lot  for  an 
inheritance  to  you,  and  to  the  strangers  that  sojourn 
among  you,  who  have  begotten  children  among  you  ;  and 
they  shall  be  to  you  as  born  in  the  country  among  the 
sons  of  Israel ;  they  shall  have  an  inheritance  with  you 

23  among  the  tribes  of  Israel.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass, 
that  in  what  tribe  tlie  stranger  sojourneth  there  shall  ye 
appoint  him  his  inheritance,  saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 

1  And  these  are  the  names  of  the  tribes.  From  the 
norlJi  end  by  the  way  of  Ilethlon,  as  one  gocth  to  Ha- 
math, Ilazar-Eiian,  the  border  of  Damascus  northward 
toward  Hamath ;  and  to  him  belongeth  from  the  east  side 

2  to  the  west  side :  Dan,  one  tribe.  And  by  the  border  of 
Dan,  from  the  east  side  to  the  west  side :  Asher,  one  tribe. 

3  And  by  the  border  of  Asher,  from  the  east  side  to  the 

4  west  side:  Naplitali,  one  tribe.  And  by  tlie  border  of 
Naphtali,  from  tlie  east  side  to  the  west  side  :    Manasseh, 

5  one  tribe.     And  by  the  bonhir  of  Manasseh,  from  the  east 
0  side  to  the  west  side  :    Ephraim,  one  tribe.     And  by  the 

border  of  Ephraim,  from  the  east  side  to  the  west  side: 

7  Reuben,  one  tribe.  And  by  the  border  of  Reuben,  from 
the  east  side  to  the  west  side  :   Judah,  one  tribe. 

8  And  by  the  border  of  Judah,  from  the  east  side  to  the 
west,  shall  be  the  oblation  which  ye  shall  offer,  five  and 
twenty  thousand  reeds  in  breadth,  and  in  length  as  one 
of  the  other  portions  from  the  east  side  to  the  west  side  j 

9  and  the  sanctuary  shall  be  in  the  midst  of  it.  The  obla- 
tion which  ye  shall  offer  to  Jehovah  shall  be  five  and 
twenty   thousand   reeds   in   length,  and  ten   thousand   iu 

10  breadth.  And  the  holy  oblation  shall  be  lor  these  :  for 
the   pri'.'Sts   toward  the  north   five  and   isf'tuty  thousand 


CH.  XLTiii.J  EZEKIEL.  255 

reeds  in  length,  and  toward  the  west  ten  thousand  in 
breadth,  and  toward  the  east  ten  thousand  in  breadth,  and 
toward  the  south  five  and  twenty  thousand  in  length. 
And  the  sanctuary  of  Jehovah  shall  be  in  the  midst  tliere- 

11  of.  It  shall  belong  to  the  priests,  the  sanctified  ones,  to 
the  sons  of  Zadok,  who  kept  my  charge,  who  went  not 
astray  when  the  sons  of  Israel  went  astray,  as  the  Levites 

12  went  astray.  And  it  shall  belong  to  them  as  an  oblation 
out  of  the  oblation  of  the  land,  as  most  holy,  by  the  border 
of  the  Levites. 

13  And  over  against  the  border  of  the  priests,  the  Levites 
shall  have  five  and  twenty  thousand  reeds  in  length  and 
ten  thousand  in  breadth  ;  the  whole  length  five  and  twen- 

14  ty  thousand,  and  the  breadth  ten  thousand.  And  they 
shall  not  sell  of  it ;  neither  shall  they  exchange  or  trans- 
fer the  first  fruits  of  the  land ;  for  it  is  holy  to  Jehovah. 

15  And  the  five  thousand  which  are  left  in  breadth,  over 
against  the  five  and  twenty  thousand  in  length,  shall  be 
common  land  for  the  city,  for  habitation  and  for  suburbs. 

16  And  the  city  shall  be  in  the  midst  of  it.  And  this  shall 
be  the  measure  thereof:  the  north  side  four  thousand  and 
five  hundred,  and  the  south  side  four  thousand  and  five 
hundred,  and  the  east  side  four  thousand  and  five  hundred, 

17  and  the  west  side  four  thousand  and  five  hundred.  And 
the  suburbs  of  the  city  shall  be  toward  the  north  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty,  and  toward  the  south  two  hundred  and  fif- 
ty, and  toward  the  east  two  hundred  and  fifty,  and  toward 
the  west  two  hundred  and  fifty. 

18  And  as  to  the  residue  in  length,  over  against  the  holy 
portion,  ten  thousand  eastward  and  ten  thousand  west- 
ward, over  against  the  holy  portion,  its  increase  shall  be 

19  for  food  to  them  that  serve  the  city.     And  they  that  serve 

20  the  city  shall  serve  it  out  of  all  the  tribes  of  Israel.  All 
the  oblation  shall  be  five  and  twenty  thousand  reeds  by 
five  and  twenty  thousand  ;  ye  shall  offer  the  holy  oblation, 
four-square,  together  with  the  possession  of  the  city. 

21  And  the  residue  on  both  sides  of  the  holy  oblation  and 
of  the  possession  of  the  city,  over  against  the  five  and 
twenty  thousand  to  the  east  border,  and  westward  over 
against  the  five  and  twenty  thousand  to  the  west  border, 
by  the  portions  of  the  tribes,  shall  be  for  the  prince  ;  and 
the  holy  oblation  and  the  sanctuary  of  the  house  shall  be 


256  EZEKIEL.  [CH.  XLViii 

22  in  the  midst  thereof.  What  is  left  from  the  possession  of 
the  Levites  and  of  the  city,  which  are  between  what  be- 
longs to  the  prince,  between  the  borders  of  Judah  and 
Benjamin,  shall  belong  to  the  prince. 

23  And  as  for  the  rest  of  the  tribes,  from  the  east  side  to 

24  the  west  side  :  Benjamin,  one  tribe.  And  by  the  border 
of  Benjamin,  from  the  east  side  to  the  west  side  :  Simeon, 

25  one  tribe.     And  by  the  border  of  Simeon,  from  the  east 

26  side  to  the  west  side :  Issachar,  one  tribe.  And  by  the 
border  of  Issachar,  from  the  east  side  to  the  west  side : 

27  Zebulon,  one  tribe.     And  by  the  border  of  Zebulon,  from 

28  the  east  side  to  the  west  side :  Gad,  one  tribe.  And  by 
the  border  of  Gad,  at  the  south  side  southward,  shall  the 
border  be  from  Tamar  to  the  waters  of  strife  in  Kadesh, 
even  to  the  river  by  the  great  sea. 

29  This  is  the  land  which  ye  shall  divide  by  lot  of  the  pos- 
session among  the  tribes  of  Israel,  and  these  are  their  por- 
tions, saith  the  Lord  Jehovah. 

30  And  these  are  the  gates  of  the  city.  On  the  north  side 
shall  the  measure  be  four  thousand  five  hundred  reeds. 

31  And  the  gates  of  the  city  shall  be  after  the  names  of  the 
tribes   of  Israel ;   three  gates  northward,  —  one  gate  of 

32  Reuben,  one  gate  of  Judah,  one  gate  of  Levi.  And  on 
the  east  side  shall  be  four  thousand  and  five  hundred 
[reeds]  ;  and  tlirce  gates,  —  one  gate  of  Joseph,  one  gate 

33  of  Benjamin,  one  gate  of  Dan.  And  on  the  south  side  its 
measure  shall  be  four  thousand  five  hundred ;  and  three 
gates,  —  one  gate  of  Simeon,  one  gate  of  Issachar,  one 

34  gate  of  Zebulon.  On  the  west  side,  four  thousand  and  five 
hundred;  and  three  gates, —  one  gate  of  Gad,  one  gate  of 

35  Asher,  one  gate  of  Na})htali.  Its  measure  round  about 
was  eighteen  thousand  reeds.  And  the  name  of  the  city 
from  that  day  shall  be  Jehovah-is-there. 


HAGGAI. 


The  people  reproved  for  neglecting  to  build  the  temple.  —-  Ch.  I. 

1  In  the  second  year  of  Darius  the  king,  in  the  sixth 
month,  on  the  first  day  of  the  month,  came  the  word  of 
Jehovah  hy  Haggai  the  prophet  to  Zerubbabel,  the  son 
of  Shealtiel,  governor  of  Judah,  and  to  Joshua,  the  son 

2  of  Josedech,  the  high-priest,  raying,  Thus  saith  Jehovah 
of  hosts :  This  people  saith,  The  time  is  not  yet  come,  the 

3  time  that  the  house  of  Jehovah  should  be  built.  But  the 
word  of  Jehovah  hath  come  by  Haggai  the  prophet,  say- 


4  Is  it,  then,  a  time  for  yourselves 
To  dwell  in  ceiled  houses, 
While  this  house  lieth  waste  ? 

5  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts : 
Consider  how  it  goeth  with  you  ! 

6  Ye  sow  much,  and  bring  in  little  ; 
Ye  eat,  but  are  not  full ; 

Ye  drink,  but  are  not  satisfied  ; 
Ye  clothe  yourselves,  but  are  not  warmed  ; 
And  he  that  earneth  wages  earneth  them  for  a  purse  with 
holes. 

7  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  : 
Consider  how  it  goeth  with  you  ! 

8  Go  up  to  the  mountain,  and  bring  wood,  and  build  the 

house. 
That  I  may  have  pleasure  therein, 
And  be  glorified,  saith  Jehovah. 


258  HAGGAI.  [cn.u. 

9  Ye  look  for  much,  and  lo,  it  cometh  to  little ; 
And  when  ye  bring  it  home,  I  blow  it  away ; 
And  why  ?  saith  Jeliovah  of  hosts. 
Because  of  my  house  which  lieth  waste, 
While  ye  run  every  one  to  his  own  house. 

10  Therefore  the  heaven  over  you  withholdeth  the  dew, 
And  the  earth  refuseth  her  fruit. 

11  And  I  have  called  for  a  drought  upon  the  land,  and  upon 

the  mountains ; 
And  upon  the  corn,  and  the  new  wine,  and  the  oil ; 
Upon  that  which  the  ground  bringeth  forth, 
And  upon  men,  and  upon  cattle. 
And  upon  all  the  labor  of  the  hands. 

12  Then  Zerubbabel,  the  son  of  Shealtiel,  and  Joshua,  the 
son  of  Josedech,  the  high-priest,  and  all  the  remnant  of 
people,  hearkened  to  the  voice  of  Jehovah  their  God,  and 
to  the  words  of  Ilaggai  the  prophet,  as  Jehovah  their 
God  had  sent  him  ;  and  the  people  ieared  before  Jeho- 

13  vah.  Then  spake  Haggai,  the  messenger  of  Jehoval],  by 
a  message  from  Jehovah  to  the  people,  saying,  I  am  with 

14  you,  saith  Jehovah.  And  Jehovah  stirred  up  lh(3  spirit  of 
Zerubbabel,  the  son  of  Shealtiel,  governor  of  Judah,  and 
the  spirit  of  Joshua,  the  son  of  Josedech,  the  high-[)riest, 
and  the  spirit  of  all  the  remnant  of  people,  so  that  they 
came  and  executed  work  upon  the  house  of  Jehovali  of 

15  hosts,  their  God,  on  the  four  and  twentieth  day  of  the 
sixth  month,  in  the  second  year  of  Darius  the  king. 


n. 

The  glory  of  the  second  temple.  —  Ch,  II.  1-9. 

1  In  the  seventh  month,  on  the  one  and  twentieth  da}"-  of 
the  month,   came   the  word  of  Jehovah  by  the  prophet 

2  Haggai,  saying :  Speak  now  to  Zerubbabel,  the  son  of 
Shealtiel,  governor  of  Judah,  and  to  Joshua,  the  son  of 
Josedech,  the  high-priest,  and  to  the  remnant  of  the  peo- 
ple, saying :  — 


CH.  II.]  HAGGAI.  259 

3  Who  is  there  left  among  you, 
That  saw  this  house 

In  its  former  glory  ? 

And  what  do  ye  see  it  now  ? 

Is  it  not  as  nothing  in  your  eyes  ? 

4  Yet  now  be  strong,  O  Zerubbabel,  saith  Jehovah  ; 

And  be  strong,  O  Joshua,  son  of  Josedech,  the  high- 
priest ; 

And  be  strong,  O  all  ye  people  of  the  land,  saith  Jeho- 
vah, and  work  ! 

For  I  am  with  you,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

5  This  is  the  covenant  which  I  made  with  you  when  ye 

came  out  of  Egypt, 
And  my  spirit  remaineth  among  you : 
Fear  ye  not ! 

6  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  : 
Yet  once  more,  in  a  short  time, 

I  will  shake  the  heavens  and  the  earth, 
The  sea  and  the  dry  land. 

7  I  will  shake  all  the  nations. 

And  here  shall  come  the  precious  things  of  all  the  nn- 

tions  ; 
And  I  will  fill  this  house  with  glory, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

8  Mine  is  the  silver  and  rqjne  the  gold, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  ; 

9  Greater  shall  be  the  glory  of  this  latter  house  than  of  the 

former, 
Saith  Jehovali  of  hosts  ; 
And  in  this  place  will  I  give  peace, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 


in. 

The  neglect  to  build  the  temple  the  cause  of  unfruitful  seasons.    Promise 
of  favor.  —  Ch.  II.  10  -  19. 

10  On  the  four  and  twentieth  day  of  the  ninth  month,  in 
the  second  year  of  Darius,  came  the  word  of  Jehovah  by 

11  Haggai  the  prophet,  saying.  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts: 


260  HAGGAI.  [CH.  II. 

12  Ask  now  the  law  from  the  priests,  saying,  If  a  man  carry 
holy  flesh  in  the  skirt  of  his  garment,  and  with  his  skirt 
touch  bread,  or  pottage,  or  wine,  or  oil,  or  any  food,  shall 
it  be  holy  ?     And  the  priests  answered   and  said.    No. 

13  Then  said  Haggai,  If  a  man  unclean  by  a  dead  body 
touch  any  of  these  things,  shall  it  be  unclean  ?     And  the 

14  priests  answered  and  said,  It  shall  be  unclean.  Then  an- 
swered Hasgai  and  said :  — 


•oo'- 


So  is  this  people,  and  so  is  this  nation  before  me,  saith 
Jehovah ; 
And  so  is  all  the  work  of  their  hands ; 
And  that  which  they  offer  there  is  unclean. 

15  And  now,  I  pray  you,  consider  [how  it  hath  gone  with 

you] 
From  that  day  and  upward, 
From  the  time  before  one  stone  was  laid  upon  another  ia 

the  temple  of  Jehovah. 

16  Since  that  time  one  hath  come  to  a  heap  of  twenty  meas- 

ures. 
And  there  were  but  ten  ; 
One  hath  come  to  a  vat  to  draw  out  fifty  vessels  from  the 

wine-press. 
And  there  were  but  twenty ; 

17  I  have  smitten  you  with  blasting,  with  mildew,  and  with 

hail. 
Even  all  the  works  of  your  hands ; 
Yet  none  among  you  hath  turned  to  me,  saith  Jehovah. 

18  Consider,  I  pray  you. 
From  that  day  and  upward. 

From  the  four  and  twentieth  day  of  the  ninth  month. 
From  the  day  when  the  foundation  of  the  temple  of  Jeho- 
vah was  laid, 
Consider  ye ! 

19  Is  there  yet  seed  in  the  barn  ? 

Yea,  as  yet  the  vine,  and  the  fig-tree,  and  pomegranate^ 

and  the  olive-tree  have  not  borne. 
But  from  this  day  will  I  bless  you. 


CH.  II.]  HAGGAI.  261 


IV. 

Promise  of  prosperity,  victory  over  enemies,  &c.  —  Ch.  II.  20  -  23. 

20  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  the  second  time  to 
Haggai,  on  the  four  and  twentieth  day  of  the  month,  say- 

21  ing,  Speak  to   Zerubbabel,  the  governor  of  Judah,  and 
say :  — 

I  will  shake  the  heavens  and  the  earth, 

22  And  I  will  overthrow  the  thrones  of  kingdoms, 

And  I  will  destroy  the  strength  of  the  kingdoms  of  the 

nations, 
And  I  will  overthrow  the  chariots,  and  those  that  ride  ia 

them. 
And  the  horses  and  their  riders  shall  come  down, 
One  by  the  sword  of  the  other. 

23  In  that  day,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts, 

I  will  take  thee,  O  Zerubbabel,  son  of  Shealtiel,  my  ser- 
vant, saith  Jehovah, 
And  keep  thee  as  a  signet-ring ; 
For  thee  have  I  chosen,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosta. 


ZECHAEIAH. 


PART    I. 


Prophecies  and  visions  relating  to  the  establishment  of  the  Jews  in  a  nen 
state  after  the  captivity. 


Exhortation  to  repentance.  —  Ch.  1. 1  -  6. 

1  In  the  eighth  month,  in  the  second  year  of  Darius,  came 
the  word  of  Jehovah  to  Zechariah,  the  son  of  Barachiah, 
the  son  of  Iddo,  the  prophet,  saying :  — 

2  Jehovah  hath  been  much  displeased  with  your  fathers. 

3  But  say  thou  to  them,  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts : 
Turn  ye  to  me,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts, 

And  I  will  turn  to  you,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

4  Be  ye  not  as  your  fathers,  to  whom  the  former  prophets 

cried,  saying. 
Turn  ye  now  from  your  evil  ways,  and  from  your  evil 

doings ! 
But  they  did  not  hear,  nor  hearken  to  me,  saith  Jehovah. 

5  Your  fathers,  where  are  they  ? 

And  the  prophets,  do  they  live  forever  ? 

6  But  my  words  and  my  statutes, 

Which  I  commanded  my  servants,  the  prophets, 

Bid  they  not  overtake  your  fathers  ? 

And  they  returned  and  said, 

Even  as  Jehovah  of  hosts  thought 

To  do  to  us  according  to  our  ways,  and  according  to  ouj 

doings. 
So  hath  he  done  to  us. 


OH.  I.]  ZECHARIAH.  263 


II. 

Vision  of  horsemen,  designed  to  encourage  the  Jews,  and  to  assure  thera 
that  they  might  proceed  in  tranquillity  to  build  the  city  and  temple.  — 
Cii.  I.  7-17. 

7  On  the  four  and  twentieth  day  of  the  eleventh  month, 
which  is  the  month  Sebat,  in  the  second  year  of  Darius, 
came  the  word  of  Jehovah  to  Zechariah,  the  son  of  Bara- 
chiah,  the  son  of  Iddo,  the  prophet,  saying :  — 

8  I  saw  in  the  night,  and  behold,  a  man  riding  upon  a 
red  horse ;  and  he  stood  among  the  myrtle-trees  that  were 
in  the  deep  valley,  and  behind  him  were  other  horses,  red, 

9  fox-colored,  and  white.  Then  I  said,  What  are  these,  ray 
lord?     And  the  angel  that  talked  with  me  said  to  me, 

10  I  will  show  thee  what  these  are.  And  the  man  that 
stood  among  the  myrtle-trees  answered  and  said.  These 
are   they  whom   Jehovah   hath   sent   to  go   to   and  fro 

11  through  the  earth.  And  they  answered  the  angel  of 
Jehovah  that  stood  among  the  myrtle- trees,  and  said,  We 
have  gone  to  and  fro  through  the  earth,  and  behold,  all 

12  the  earth  is  still  and  at  rest.  Then  the  angel  of  Jehovah 
answered,  and  said,  O  Jehovah  of  hosts,  how  long  wilt 
thou  not  have  mercy  on  Jerusalem  and  the  cities  of 
Judah,  against  which   thou    hast   had    indignation    these 

13  threescore  and  ten  years?  And  Jehovah  answered  the 
angel  that  talked  with  me  good  words  and  comfortable 
words. 

14  And  the  angel  who  talked  with  me  said  to  me ;  Pro- 

claim thou  and  say, 

Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts : 

I  am  jealous  for  Jerusalem  and  for  Zion  with  great  jeal- 
ousy, 

15  And  with  great  anger  am  I  angry  with  the  nations  that 

are  at  ease ; 
For  I  was  but  a  little  displeased. 
And  they  helped  forward  the  afl9.iction. 

16  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

I  return  to  Jerusalem  with  mercies ; 


264  ZECHARIAH.  [CH.  II. 

My  house  shall  be  built  in  it, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts, 

And  a  measuring-line  shall  be  stretched  forth  over  Jeru- 
salem. 
17  Proclaim  yet  and  say, 

Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts : 
My  cities  shall  yet  overflow  with  prosperity, 
And  Jehovah  will  yet  comfort  Zion, 
And  will  yet  choose  Jerusalem. 


in. 

The  vision  of  four  horns,  and  its  explanation.  —  Ch.  I.  18  -  21. 

18  Then  I  lifted  up  my  eyes  and  looked,  and  behold,  four 

19  horns.  And  I  said  to  the  angel  that  talked  with  me,  What 
mean  these  ?     And  he  answered  me,  These  are  the  horns 

20  which  have  scattered  Judah,  Israel,  and  Jerusalem.     And 

21  Jehovah  showed  me  four  smiths.  Then  said  I,  What 
come  these  to  do  ?  And  he  spake,  saying.  These  are  the 
horns  which  scattered  Judah,  so  that  no  man  lifted  up  his 
head ;  and  now  these  are  come  to  terrify  them,  to  cast  out 
the  horns  of  the  nations  which  lifted  up  their  horn  against 
the  land  of  Judah  to  scatter  it. 


IV. 

Vision  of  the  man  with  the  measuring-line,  denoting  that  Jerusalem  should 
be  rebuilt.    Promise  of  future  glory.  —  Ch.  II. 

1  I  LIFTED  up  mine  eyes  again,  and  looked,  and  behold, 

2  a  man  with  a  measuring-line  in  his  hand.  Then  said  I, 
Whither  goest  thou?  And  he  said  to  me.  To  measure 
Jerusalem,  to  see  what  is  the  breadth  thereof,  and  what  is 

8  the  length  thereof.     And  behold,  the  angel  who  talked 

with  me  went  forth,  and  another  angel  went  forth  to  meet 

4  him,  and  said  to  him,  Run,  speak  to  that  young  man,  say- 


CH.  ii.J  ZECHARIAH.  2l55 

Jerusalem  shall  be  inhabited  without  walls 
On  account  of  the  multitude  of  men  and  of  cattle  within 
her. 

5  And  I  will  be  to  her,  saith  Jehovah, 
A  wall  of  fire  round  about, 

And  glory  will  I  be  within  her. 

6  Ho !  ho !  flee  ye  out  of  the  land  of  the  North,  saith 

Jehovah ; 
For  toward  the  four  winds  of  heaven  have  I  scattered 
you  abroad,  saith  Jehovah. 

7  Ho,  Ziou,  escape, 

Thou  that  dwellest  with  the  "daughter  of  Babylon  ! 

8  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  : 

For  glory  hath  he  sent  me  to  the  nations  which  plundered 

you; 
(For  he  that  toucheth  you  toucheth  the  apple  of  his  eye.) 

9  For,  behold,  I  will  shake  my  hand  over  them. 

And  they  shall  be  a  spoil  to  those  that  served  them ; 
And  ye  shall  know  that  Jehovah  of  hosts  hath  sent  me. 

10  Sing  and  rejoice,  O  daughter  of  Zion  ! 
For,  behold,  I  will  come. 

And  I  will  dwell  in  the  midst  of  thee,  saith  Jehovah ; 

11  And  many  nations  shall  join  themselves  to  Jehovah  in 

that  day. 
And  shall  be  my  people  ; 
And  I  will  dwell  in  the  midst  of  thee ; 
And  thou  shalt  know  that  Jehovah  of  hosts  hath  sent  me 

to  thee. 
2  And  Jehovah  will  possess  Judah  as  his  portion  in  the  holy 

land. 
And  will  again  choose  Jerusalem. 
t  Be  silent,  all  flesh,  before  Jehovah ! 
For  he  riseth  up  from  his  holy  habitation. 


VOL.  II.  12 


266  ZECHARIAH.  [ch.  in 


Joshua,  the  high-priest,  accused  and  acquitted  before  Jehovah.    Promise 
of  the  Messiah.  —  Ch.  III. 

1  And  he  showed  me  Joshua,  the  high-priest,  standing 
before  the  angel  of  Jehovah,  and  the  adversary  standing 

2  at  his  right  hand,  to  accuse  him.  And  Jehovah  said  to 
the  adversary :  — 

Jehovah  rebuke  thee,  thou  adversary, 
Even  Jehovah,  who  hath  chosen  Jerusalem,  rebuke  thee ! 
Is  not  this  man  a  brand  plucked  out  of  the  fire  ? 

3  Now  Joshua  was   clothed  with   filthy   garments,  and 

4  stood  before  the  angel.  And  he  [the  angel]  spake  and 
said  to  them  [the  angels]  that  stood  before  him,  saying, 
Take  off  the  filthy  garments  from  him.  And  to  him  he 
said.  Behold,  I  have  caused  thine  iniquity  to  pass  from 

5  thee,  and  will  clothe  thee  with  goodly  apparel.  And  I 
said.  Let  them  set  a  fair  mitre  upon  his  head !  And  they 
set  a  fair  mitre  upon  his  head,  and  clotlied  him  with  gar- 
ments.    And  the  angel  of  Jehovah  stood  by. 

6  And  the  angel  of  Jehovah  declared  to  Joshua  and 
said :  — 

7  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts : 
If  thou  wilt  walk  in  my  ways, 
And  if  thou  wilt  keep  my  charge, 
Then  thou  shalt  also  rule  my  house, 
And  shalt  also  keep  my  courts, 

And  I  will  give  thee  guides  among  these  that  stand  by. 

8  Hear  now,  O  Joshua,  high-priest. 

Thou  and  thy  companions,  who  sit  before  thee  ! 

For  they  are  men  that  are  signs. 

For,  behold,  I  will  cause  to  come  my  servant,  the  Branch. 

9  For,  behold,  the  stone  which  I  have  laid  before  Joshua, 
Upon  this  one  stone  shall  be  seven  eyes ; 

Behold,  I  will  engrave  the  graving  thereof,  saith  Jeho- 
vah of  hosts ; 


CH.  IV.]  ZECHARIAH.  267 

Aiid  I  will  remove  the  iniquity  of  this  land  in  one  day. 
10  In  that  day,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts, 
Shall  ye  invite  every  one  his  neighbor 
Under  the  vine  and  under  the  fig-tree. 


VI. 

Vision  of  the  chandelier,  and  the  two  olive-trees  which  supplied  it  with 
oil:  symbols  denoting  that  the  temple  was  to  be  built  not  so  much  by 
human  strength  as  by  the  Divine  Spirit.  —  Ch.  IV. 

1  And  the  angel  that  talked  with  me  came  again,  and 
awaked  me,  as  a  man  that  is  wakened  out  of  his  sleep, 

2  and  said  to  me,  What  seest  thou  ?  And  I  said,  I  have 
looked,  and  behold,  a  chandelier  all  of  gold,  with  a  bowl 
upon  the  top  of  it,  and  its  seven  lamps  upon  it,  and  seven 
pipes  to  the  seven  lamps  which  are  upon  the  top  of  it ; 

3  and  two  olive-trees  by  it,  one  upon  the  right  side  of  the 

4  bowl,  and  the  other  upon  the  left  side  of  it.  And  I 
spake,  and  said  to  the  angel  that  talked  with  me.  What 

5  mean  these,  my  lord  ?  Then  the  angel  who  talked  with 
me  answered  and   said  to  me,  Knowest  thou  not  what 

6  these  mean  ?  And  I  said.  No,  my  lord.  Then  he  an- 
swered and  spake  to  me,  saying.  This  is  the  word  of 
Jehovah  to  Zerubbabel,  saying :  — 

Not  by  might,  nor  by  power, 
But  by  my  spirit, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

7  What  art  thou,  O  great  mountain  ? 

Before  Zerubbabel  thou  shalt  become  a  plain  ! 

And  he  shall  bring  forth  the  corner-stone  amid  shoutings, 

[The  people  crying,]  "  Grace,  grace  be  to  it !  " 

8  Moreover,  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying: 

9  The  hands  of  Zerubbabel  have  laid  the  foundation  of  this 
house,    and   his    hands   shall  finish  it.     And   thou   shalt 

10  know  that  Jehovah  of  hosts  hath  sent  me  to  you.  For 
who  hath  despised  the  day  of  small  things  ?  With  joy 
shall  the  plummet  be  seen  in  the  hand  of  Zerubbabel  by 


268  ZECHARIAH.  [ch.  r. 

those  seven ;  they  are  the  eyes  of  Jehovah,  which  run  to 
and  fro  through  the  whole  earth. 

11  Then  I  spake  and  said  to  him,  What  mean  these  two 
olive-trees,  upon    the    right    side  of  the    chandelier    and 

12  upon  the  left  side  thereof?  And  I  spake  the  second 
time,  and  said  to  him.  What  mean  these  two  olive- 
branches,  which  are  by  the  side  of  the  two  golden  tubes 

13  which  empty  the  golden  oil  out  of  themselves  ?  And  he 
answered   me    and   said,  Knowest   thou   not  what  these 

14  mean  ?  And  I  said.  No,  my  lord.  And  he  said,  These 
are  the  two  anointed  ones  that  stand  before  the  Lord  of 
all  the  earth. 


vn. 

Vision  of  the  flying  book-roll,  and  of  the  woman  shut  up  in  an  ephah 
—  Ch.  V. 

1  And  I  lifted  up  my  eyes  again  and  looked,  and  behold, 

2  a  flying  roll.     And    he  said    to  me,  What   seest   thou  ? 
And  I  answered,  I  see  a  flying  roll ;  the  length  thereof  is 

3  twenty  cubits,  and  the  breadth  thereof  ten  cubits.     Then 
said  he  to  me :  — 

This  is  the  curse  that  goeth  forth 
Over  the  face  of  the  whole  land ; 
For  every  one  who  stealeth  shall  be  cut  off  from  hence, 

according  to  it, 
And  every  one  who  sweareth  falsely  shall  be  cut  off  from 

hence,  accorduig  to  it. 

4  I  will  bring  it  forth,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 
And  it  shall  enter  into  the  house  of  the  thief, 

And  into  the  house  of  him  that  sweareth  falsely  by  my 

name ; 
And  it  shall  abide  in  his  house, 
And  shall  consume  it,  with  the  timber  thereof  and  the 

stones  thereof. 

5  Then  the  angel  who  talked  with  me  went  forth,  and 
said  to  me.  Lift  up  now  thine  eyes,  and  see  what  this  is 

6  which  goeth  forth.     And  I  said,  What  is  it?     And  he 


CH.  VI.]  ZECHARIAH.  269 

said,   This    is    an    ephah   which   goeth   forth.     He    said, 
moreover,    This    is    their   image    through    all    the    land. 

7  And  behold,  a  talent  of  lead  was  lifted  up,  and  a  woman 

8  was  sitting  upon  the  ephah.  And  he  said,  This  is  the 
Wickedness.     And  he  cast  her  into  the  ephah,  and    he 

9  cast  the  weight  of  lead  upon  the  mouth  thereof.  Then 
lifted  1  up  mine  eyes  and  looked,  and  behold,  there  came 
foi'th  two  women,  and  wind  was  in  their  wings ;  for  they 
had  wings  like  the  wiugs  of  a  stork,  and  they  lifted  up 

10  the  epliah  between  the  earth  and  heaven.  Then  said  I 
to  the  angel  who  talked  with  me.  Whither  do  these  bear 

11  the  ephah?  And  he  said  to  me.  To  build  it  a  house  in 
the  land  of  Shinar,  that  it  may  be  fixed  there,  and  set 
upon  its  base. 


YIII. 

Vision  of  the  four  chariots,  portending  Divine'judgmeuts  upon  the  nations 
of  the  North.  —  Ch.  VI.  1-8. 

1  And  I  lifted  up  mine  eyes  again,  and  looked,  and, 
behold,  there  came  four  chariots  out  from  between  two 
mountains ;  and  the  mountains  were  mountains  of  brass. 

2  In  the  first  chariot  were  red  horses;  and  in  the  second 

3  chariot,  black  horses ;  and  in  the  third  chariot,  white 
horses;    and    in    the  fourth    chariot,    spotted-red   horses. 

4  Then  I  spake,  and  said  to  the  angel  that  talked  with  me, 

5  What  are  these,  my  lord  ?  And  the  angel  answered  and 
said  to  me,  These  are  the  four  Winds  of  heaven,  which  go 
forth  from  standing  before  the   Lord  of  all  the  earth, 

6  The  black  horses,  which  are  thereto,  go  forth  into  the 
north  country,  and  the  white  go  forth  after  them ;  and 

7  the  spotted  go  forth  into  the  south  country.  And  the  red 
ones  went  forth,  and  sought  to  go,  even  to  walk  to  and 
fro  through  the  earth.  And  he  said.  Go,  walk  ye  to  and 
fro    through    the    earth !      So   they   walked   to   and   fro 

8  through  the  earth.  Then  he  cried  to  me,  and  spake  to 
me,  saying,  Behold,  these  that  go  forth  toward  the  land 
of  the  North  shall  execute  ray  wrath  against  the  land  of 
the  North. 


270  ZECHARIAH.  [ch.  vii, 


IX. 

A  crown  placed  upon  the  head  of  Joshua,  a  symbol  of  a  future  sovereign^ 
the  Messiah,  who  should  uuite  the  offices  of  king  and  priest.  —  Ch.  VI. 
9-15. 

9, 10  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  saying :  Take 
from  those  of  the  captivity,  from  Heldai,  from  Tobijah, 
and  from  Jedaiah,  and  come  thou  the  same  day,  and  go 
into  the  house  of  Josiah,  the  son  of  Zephaniah,  whither 

11  they  are  come  from  Babylon ;  take  from  them  silver  and 
gold,  and    make  a  crown,  and    set  it  upon  the  head  of 

12  Joshua,  the  son  of  Josedech,  the  high-priest,  and  speak  to 
him,  saying.  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  :  — 

Behold  a  man  whose  name  is  the  Branch, 
He  shall  spring  up  from  his  place. 
And  he  shall  build  the  temple  of  Jehovah. 

13  He  shall  build  the  temple  of  Jehovah, 
And  he  shall  bear  the  majesty, 

And  sit  and  rule  upon  his  throne. 
And  be  a  priest  upon  his  throne. 
And  the  counsel  of  peace  shall  be  between  them  both. 

14  And  the  crown  shall  be  to  Helem,  and  to  Tobijah,  and 
to  Jedaiah,  and    to   Hen,  the  son    of  Zephaniah,   for  a 

15  memorial  in  the  temple  of  Jehovah.  And  they  that  are 
far  off  shall  come  and  build  in  the  temple  of  Jehovah ; 
and  ye  shall  know  that  Jehovah  of  hosts  hath  sent  me  to 
you.  And  this  shall  come  to  pass,  if  ye  will  diligently 
obey  the  voice  of  Jehovah,  your  God. 


X. 

Through  reformation  and  the  prevalence  of  true  righteousness,  the  favor 
of  God  shall  change  fasts  into  feasts.  —  Ch.  VII., VIII. 

1       And  it  came  to  pass,  in  the  fourth  year  of  King  Darius, 
that  the  word   of  Jehovah   came  to   Zechariah,  on    the 


Cii.  vm.]  ZECHARIAH.  .  271 

2  fourth  day  of  the  ninth  month,  even  in  Chisleii ;  when 
thej  had  sent  to  the  house  of  God  Sherezer  and  Regem- 

3  melech,  and  their  men,  to  pray  before  Jehovah,  and  to 
speak  to  the  priests  that  were  in  the  house  of  Jehovah 
of  hosts,  and  to  the  prophets,  saying,  "  Shall  I  weep  in 
the  fifth  month,  separating  myself,  as  I  have  done  these  so 

4  many  years?"     Then  came  the  word  of  Jehovah  of  hosts 

5  to  me,  saying.  Speak  to  all  the  peo^Dle  of  the  land,  and 
to  the  priests,  saying,  When  ye  fasted  and  mourned  in 
the  fifth  month  and  in  the  seventh  month,  even  those 
seventy  years,  did  ye  at  all   fast  for  me,  even  for  me? 

6  And  when  ye  eat  and  drink,  is  it  not  ye  that  eat,  and  ye 

7  that  drink?  Are  not  these  the  words  which  Jehovali 
proclaimed  by  the  former  prophets,  when  Jerusalem  was 
inhabited  and  in  prosperity,  and  her  cities  round  about 
her,  and  when  the  South  and  the  Plain  were  inhabited? 

8  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  Zechariah,  saying, 

9  Thus  spake  Jehovah  of  hosts,  saying.  Judge  true  judg- 
ment, and  show  mercy  and  compassion  every  man  to  his 

10  brother.  And  the  widow,  and  the  orphan,  and  the  stran- 
ger,  and    the  poor,  oppress    not,  and    meditate  not  evil 

11  against  one  another  in  your  heart.  But  they  refused  to 
hearken,  and  showed    a    refractory  shoulder,  and    made 

12  their  ears  dull,  that  the}^  might  not  hear ;  yea,  they  made 
their  hearts  as  an  adamant  stone,  that  they  might  not 
hear  the  law,  and  the  words  which  Jehovah  of  hosts  sent 
through    his    spirit  by  the    former    prophets.     Therefore 

13  came  great  anger  from  Jehovah  of  hosts.  And  as  he 
called  and  they  would  not   hear,  so  they  called  and  I 

14  would  not  hear,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts.  And  I  scattered 
them  as  with  a  whirlwind  among  all  the  nations,  which 
they  knew  not.  And  the  land  was  desolate  after  them, 
so  that  no  man  passed  through,  nor  returned ;  and  thus 
the  beautiful  land  was  made  a  desolation. 

1  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  of  hosts  came  to  me,  saying, 

2  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  : 

I  have  been  jealous  for  Zion  with  great  jealousy, 
And  with  great  wrath  have  I  been  jealous  for  her. 

3  Thus  saith  Jehovah  : 

I  have  returned  to  Zion, 

And  I  will  dwell  in  Jerusalem ; 


272  ZECHARIAH.  [ch.  Tin. 

And  Jerusalem  shall  be  called  a  city  of  truth, 
And  the  mountain  of  Jehovah  of  hosts  the  holy  moun- 
tain. 

4  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  : 

There  shall  yet  old  men  and  old  women  dwell 

In  the  streets  of  Jerusalem, 

Every  one  with  his  staff  in  his  hand  for  great  age. 

5  And  the  streets  of  the  city  sliall  be  full 
Of  boys  and  girls  playing  in  her  streets. 

6  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  : 
If  it  be  ditHcult  in  the  eyes 

Of  the  residue  of  this  people  in  these  days. 
Is  it  therefore  difficult  in  my  eyes, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  ? 

7  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts : 
Behold,  I  will  save  my  people 

From  the  land  of  the  rising,  and  from  the  land  of  the  set- 
ting sun. 

8  And  I  will  bring  them,  and  they  shall  dwell  in  Jerusa- 

lem ; 
And  they  shall  be  my  people, 
And  I  will  be  their  God, 
In  truth  and  in  righteousness. 

9  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  : 
Let  your  hands  be  strong, 
Ye  that  hear  in  these  days 

These  words  by  the  mouth  of  the  prophets, 

Who  were  in  the  day  when  the  foundation  of  the  house 

of  Jehovah  of  hosts  was  laid, 
The  temple,  that  it  might  be  built. 

10  For  before  these  days 

There  was  no  recompense  for  men. 

Nor  was  there  any  recompense  for  beasts ; 

Nor  to  him  that  went  out,  nor  to  him  that  came  in,  was 

there  security  from  the  enemy  ; 
For  I  set  all  men  one  against  another. 

11  But  now  I  will  not  be  as  in  former  days 
Toward  the  residue  of  this  people, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

12  For  the  seed  shall  be  prosperous  ; 
The  vine  shall  yield  its  fruit. 

And  the  earth  shall  yield  her  increase, 


CH.  VIII.]  ZEc:iAi:iAn.  273 

And  the  heavens  shall  yield  their  dew ; 
And  I  will  cause  the  remnant  of  this  people  to  possess  all 
these. 

13  And  it  shall  be,  that  as  ye  were  a  curse  among  the  na- 

tions, 

0  house  of  Judah  and  house  of  Israel, 

So  will  I  save  you,  and  ye  shall  be  a  blessing. 
Fear  not ;  let  your  hands  be  strong ! 

14  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts : 
As  I  thought  to  do  you  evil. 

When  your  fathers  provoked  me  to  anger, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 
And  I  repented  not, 

15  So  have  I  again  thought  in  these  days 
To  do  good  to  Jerusalem, 

And  to  the  house  of  Judah.     Fear  ye  not ! 

16  These  are  the  things  which  ye  shall  do : 
Speak  ye  every  man  the  truth  to  his  neighbor ; 
Judge  according  to  truth,  and  for  peace  in  your  gates ; 

17  And  meditate  not  evil  against  one  another  in  your  hearts, 
And  love  not  a  false  oath  ! 

For  all  these  are  things  which  I  hate,  saith  Jehovah. 

18  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  of  hosts  came  to  me,  saying, 

19  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts : 

The  fast  of  the  fourth  month,  and  the  fast  of  the  fifth 

month. 
And  the  fast  of  the  seventh  month,  and  the  fast  of  the 

tenth  month. 
Shall  be  to  the  house  of  Judah  for  joy  and  gladness. 
And  cheerful  festivals. 
But  love  ye  truth  and  peace ! 

20  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  : 

It  shall  yet  come  to  pass,  that  many  nations  shall  come, 
And  the  inhabitants  of  many  cities ; 

21  And    the    inhabitants  of  one   city   shall    go    to   another, 

saying, . 
*'  Let  us  go  speedily  to  pray  before  Jehovah, 
And  to  seek  Jehovah  of  hosts  ! 

1  will  go  also ! " 

22  Then  shall  come  many  nations  and  mighty  kingdoms, 
To  seek  Jeliovah  of  hosts  in  Jerusalem, 

12* 


2T4  ZBCHARIAH.  [CH.  IX. 

And  to  pray  before  Jehovah. 
23  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts : 

In  those  days  shall  ten  men  of  all  languages  of  the  na- 
tions take  hold, 
They  shall  take  hold  of  the  skirt  of  him  that  is  a  Jew, 
Saying,  "  We  will  go  with  you, 
For  we  have  heard  that  God  is  with  you." 


PART    II. 

Prophecies  of  a  different  kind. 


The  prosperity  of  the  Jewish  nation  after  the  destruction  of  their  enemies. 
The  coming  of  the  Messiah,  and  his  peaceful  and  glorious  kingdom.  — 
Ch.  IX.,  X. 

1  The  prophecy  of  the  word  of  Jehovah  is  against  the 

land  of  Hadrach, 
And  upon  Damascus  shall  it  come  down, 
For  the  eye  of  Jehovah  is  over  man. 
And  over  all  the  tribes  of  Israel, 

2  And  against  Hamath,  which  bordereth  thereon, 
And  Tyre  and  Sidon,  though  she  he  very  wise. 

3  Though  Tyre  hath  built  her  a  fortress, 
And  hath  heaped  up  silver  as  dust. 
And  fine  gold  as  the  mire  of  the  streets, 

4  Behold,  the  Lord  will  cast  her  out, 
And  will  smite  her  power  into  the  sea,  . 
And  she  shall  be  devoured  by  fire. 

5  Askelon  shall  see  it  and  fear, 
Gaza  also  shall  see  and  tremble. 

And    Ekron,  because   her   expectation   shall  be   put   to 
shame. 


^"•^'^•]  J^ECHARIAH.  275 

The. king  shall  perish  from  Gaza, 
And  Askelon  shall  not  be  inhabited 
6  And  strangers  shall  dwell  in  Ashdod 
And  I  will  cut  off  the  pride  of  the  Philistines. 

fH     I  '^^'  ^-"''^  ^'''  ^^^^  «"t  of  his  mouth, 
And  his  abominations  from  between  his  teeth  • 
And  even  he  shall  be  left  for  our  God 
And  he  shall  be  as  a  governor  in  Judah, 
And  Jbkron  as  a  Jebusite. 

8  And  I  will  encamp  about  my  house,  as  a  garrison 
Against  him  that  passeth  by  and  him  that  refu  neTh' 
And  no  oppressor  shall  pass  through  them  any  more  • 
For  now  have  I  seen  with  my  own  eves  ' 

9  Rejoice  greatly,  daughter  of  Zion, 
hhout,  daughter  of  Jerusalem ! 
Behold,  thy  king  cometh  to  thee ; 
He  IS  just  and  victorious. 

Mild,  and  riding  u]X)n  an  ass, 
Even  upon  a  colt,  the  foal  of  an  as^ 
10  And  I  will  cut  off  the  chariot  from  Ephraim 
And  the  horse  from  Jerusalem  ; 
And  the  battle-bow  shall  be  cut  off. 
And  he  shall  speak  peace  to  the  nations; 
And  his  dominion  shall  be  from  sea  to  sea. 
And  from  the  river  to  the  ends  of  the  earth. 

T  1  l7«  f  !if     '  •'"'  """"^"'^^  ^^"  '^'y  Wood-sealed  covenant 
I  will  set^^thy  prisoners  free  from  the  pit  whereilis  n; 

12  Return  ye  to  the  strong-hold,  ye  prisoners  of  hope  I 
Even  this  day  do  I  declare  it ;  ^ 

I  will  restore  double  unto  thee. 

13  For  I  will  bend  Judah  as  a  bow  for  myself- 
As  a  bow  will  I  extend  Ephraim  to  the  utmos't; 
And  I  will  raise  up  thy  sons,  O  Zion, 
Against  thy  sons,  O  Greece, 

And  make  thee  as  the  sword  of  a  mighty  man 

14  And  Jehovah  shall  be  seen  over  them 
And  his  arrow  shall  go  forth  as  liglitnin^; 
And  the  Lord  Jehovah  shall  blon  the  tnimpet 
And  shall  go  forth  with  whirlwinds  of  the  South 


276  -  ZECHARIAH.  [CH.  X. 

15  Jehovah  of  hosts  shall  defend  them  ; 

And  thej  shall  devour,  and  trample  under  feet  the  sling- 
stones, 
And  they  shall  drink,  and  shout  as  through  wine. 
And  they  shall  be  filled  like  a  bowl,  like  the  corners  of 
the  altar. 

16  And  Jehovah,  their  God,  shall  save  them  in  that  day; 
He  will  save  liis  people  as  a  flock  ; 

For  they  shall  be  as  the  stones  of  a  crown,  lifting  them- 
selves up  in  his  land. 

17  How  great  shall  be  their  prosperity,  and  how  great  thei«^ 

beauty ! 
Corn  shall  make  the  young  men  thrive,  and  new  wim 
the  maidens. 

1  Ask  ye  of  Jehovah  rain  in  the  time. of  the  latter  rain  I 
It  is  Jehovah  that  maketh  the  lightning ; 

And  he  will  give  you  abundant  showers, 
To  every  one  the  herb  of  tlie  field. 

2  For  the  teraj)hiin  speak  falsehood, 
And  the  diviners  see  a  lie. 

And  the  dreams!  speak  falsehood ; 

Vain  are  their  consolations. 

Therefore  they  wander  as  a  flock  ; 

They  are  in  distress,  because  there  is  no  shepherd. 

3  My  anger  is  kindled  against  the  shepherds, 
And  the  bucks  will  I  punish  ; 

For  Jehovah  of  hosts  will  visit  his  flock,  the  house  of 

Judah, 
And  make  them  as  liis  goodly  Iiorse  in  battle. 

4  From  lu'm  shall  come  forth  the  corner-stone. 
From  him  tlie  nail, 

From  him  the  battle-bow  ; 

From  him  shall  every  leader  come  forth. 

5  And  they  shall  be  as  mighty  men, 

Who  tread  down  their  enemies  in  battle  as  the  mire  of 

the  streets. 
And  they  sliall  fight,  because  Jehovah  is  with  them, 
So  that  the  riders  on  horses  shall  be  confounded. 

6  And  I  will  strengthen  the  house  of  Judah, 
And  give  victory  to  the  house  of  Joseph, 

And  I  will  set  them  in  their  dwellings,  becaust^  I  havo 
compassion  upon  them ; 


CH.  XI.]  ZECHARIAH.  277 

And  they  shall  be  as  though  I  had  not  cast  them  off; 
For  I  am  Jehovah,  their  God,  and  I  will  hear  them. 

7  And  Ephraim  shall  be  as  a  mighty  man, 

And  their  heart  shall  rejoice,  as  through  wine  ; 
And  their  sons  shall  see  it  and  rejoice,  * 
Their  hearts  shall  rejoice  in  Jehovah. 

8  I  will  whistle  for  them,  and  will  gather  them ;  for  I  have 

redeemed  them  ; 
And  they  shall  increase  as  they  increased  before. 

9  Though  I  scatter  them  among  the  nations, 
Yet  in  far  countries  will  they  remember  me  ; 

And  they  shall  live  with  their  children,  and  shall  return. 

10  And  I  will  bring  them  back  from  the  land  of  Egypt, 
And  from  Assyria  will  I  gather  them  ; 

And  I  will  bring  them  into  the  land  of  Gilead  and  of 

Lebanon, 
And  there  shall  not  be  room  enough  for  them. 

11  And  he  shall  pass  through  the  sea  of  distress, 
And  he  shall  smite  the  sea  of  waves. 

And  all  the  depths  of  the  river  shall  be  dried  up ; 
And  tlie  pride  of  Assyria  shall  be  brought  down. 
And  the  sceptre  of  Egypt  shall  depart. 

12  And  I  will  strengthen  them  through  Jehovah, 
And  in  his  name  shall  they  walk,  saith  Jehovah. 


n. 

The  desolation  of  Judaea.  —  Ch.  XI.  1-3. 

1  Open  thy  doors,  O  Lebanon, 
That  the  fire  may  devour  thy  cedars ! 

2  Howl,  O  cypress,  for  the  cedar  falleth  ! 
For  the  lofty  ones  are  destroyed! 
Howl,  O  ye  oaks  of  Bashan, 

For  the  high  forest  is  come  down  ! 

3  Hark  !  the  voice  of  the  howling  of  the  shepherds, 
Because  their  glory  is  destroyed  ! 

The  voice  of  the  roaring  of  young  lions, 
Because  the  pride  of  Jordan  is  destroyed  1 


^.78  ZECHARIAH.  [ch.  xi. 

III. 

Judasa  undone  by  bad  rulers  and  by  internal  dissensions.  —  Ch.  XI.  4-17. 

4  Thus  said  Jehovah,  my  God : 
Feed  thou  the  flock  of  slaughter, 

5  Whose   possessors   slay  them,  and   hold   themselves  not 

guilty, 
And  which  they  who  sell  say,  "  Blessed  be  Jehovah,  for 

I  am  rich  ! " 
And  whose  shepherds  spare  them  not. 

6  For  I  will  no  longer  spare 

The  inhabitants  of  the  land,  saith  Jehovah  ; 

But,  behold,  I  will  deliver  the  men 

Every  one  into  the  hand  of  his  neighbor, 

And  into  the  hand  of  his  king  ; 

And  they  shall  smite  the  land, 

And  I  will  not  deliver  out  of  their  hand. 

7  So  I  fed  the  flock  of  slaughter,  truly  a  miserable  flock. 
And  I  took  to  me  two  crooks ;  the  one  I  called  Favor, 

B  and  the  other  I  called  Bands  ;  and  I  fed  the  flock.  And 
I  cut  off  three  shepherds  in  one  month  ;  for  I  was  weary 

9  of  them,  and  tliey  also  abhorred  me.  Then  I  said,  I  will 
not  feed  you  ;  that  wliich  dieth,  let  it  die;  and  that  which 
is  to  be  cut  off",  let  it  be  cut  off*;  and  let  the  rest  eat  the 

10  flesh  of  one  another.  And  I  took  my  staff"  Favor,  and  cut 
it  asunder,  that  I  might  break  my  covenant  which  I  had 

11  made  with  all  the  nations.  And  it  was  broken  in  that 
day  ;  and  so  the  poor  of  tlie  flock,  who  had  regard  to  me, 
knew  that  it  was  the  word  of  Jehovah. 

12  Then  I  said  to  them.  If  it  seem  good  in  your  eyes,  give 
me  my  wages ;  if  not,  keep  them.     And  they  weighed 

13  for  my  wages  thirty  shekels  of  silver.  And  Jeliovah 
said  to  me.  Cast  it  into  the  treasury,  the  goodly  price  at 
which  I  was  valued  by  them.  And  I  took  the  thirty 
shekels  of  silver,  and  cast  them  into  the  house  of  Jeho- 

14  vah,  into  the  treasury.  Then  I  broke  my  other  crook, 
even  Bands,  to  break  the  brotherhood  between  Judah  and 
Israel. 


CH.  xii.]  ZECHARIAH.  279 

15  And  Jehovah  said  to  me : 

Take  to  thee  yet  the  instruments  of  a  foolish  shepherd. 

16  For  lo,  I  will  raise  up  a  shepherd  in  the  land 
Who  shall  not  care  for  those  that  are  perishing, 
Nor  seek  that  which  is  gone  astray, 

Nor  heal  that  which  is  wounded, 
Nor  support  that  which  cannot  go; 
But  he  shall  eat  the  flesh  of  the  fat, 
And  consume  it  even  to  the  hoofs. 

17  Woe  to  the  foolish  shepherd  that  leaveth  the  flock! 
The  sword  is  upon  his  arm,  and  upon  his  right  eye ; 
His  arm  shall  surely  be  withered. 

And  his  right  eye  shall  surely  be  darkened ! 


rv. 

Invasion  of  Jerusalem  by  a  multitude  of  hostile  nations,  which  terminates 
in  their  defeat  and  ruin,  and  is  followed  by  the  permanent  peace  and 
prosperity  of  the  Jews.  —  Ch.  XII.  —  XIII.  6. 

1  The   prophecy   of  the    word   of  Jehovah   concerning 
Israel. 

Thus  saith  Jehovah,  who  stretched  out  the  heavens. 
And  laid  the  foundation  of  the  earth. 
And  formed  the  spirit  of  man  within  him  : 

2  Behold,  I  make  Jerusalem  a  cup  of  giddiness  to  all  the 

nations  round  about. 
And  for  Judah  also  shall  it  be 
In  the  siege  against  Jerusalem. 

3  And  in  that  day  will  I  make  Jerusalemi 

A  burdensome  stone  for  all  nations ;  , 

All  that  lift  it  up  shall  tear  themselves. 
And  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  shall  gather  themselves 
together  against  it. 

4  In  that  day,  saith  Jehovah, 

I  will  smite  every  horse  with  amazement, 

And  his  rider  with  madness ; 

I  will  open  mine  eyes  upon  the  house  of  Judah, 

And  every  horse  of  the  nations  will  I  smite  with  blindness, 


280  ZECHARIAH.  [CH.  xii. 

Then  shall  the  leaders  of  Judah  say  in  their  heart, 
*'  Strong  are  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem, 
Through  Jehovah  of  hosts,  their  God." 

6  In  that  day  will  I  make  the  leaders  of  Judah 
Like  a  fire-pan  among  wood, 

And  like  a  torch  of  fire  in  a  sheaf, 

And  they  shall  devour,  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left, 
All  the  nations  round  about. 

And  Jerusalem  shall  again  dwell  in  her  own  place  at  Je- 
rusalem. 

7  Jehovah  will  also  save  the  tents  of  Judah  first, 
That  the  glory  of  the  house  of  David, 

And  the  glory  of  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem, 
May  not  magnify  it>elf  against  Judah. 

8  In  that  day  shall  Jehovah  defend  the  inhabitants  of  Jeru- 

salem, 
And  he  that  is  feeble  among  them  in  that  day  shall  be  like 

David, 
And  the  house  of  David  shall  be  as  God, 
As  the  angel  of  Jehovah  before  them. 

9  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day 
Tliat  I  will  seek  to  destroy  all  the  nations 
Which  come  against  Jerusalem. 

10  Then  will  I  pour  upon  the  house  of  David, 
And  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem, 

A  spirit  of  su})plication,  and  of  prayer  ; 

And  they  shall  look  to  me  whom  they  pierced, 

And  they  shall  mourn  for  him,  as  one  mourneth  for  his 
only  son. 

And  shall  be  in  bitterness  for  him,  as  one  that  is  in  bitter- 
ness for  his  first-born. 

11  In  that  day  the  mourning  shall  be  great  in  Jerusalem, 

As  the  mourning  of  Hadadrimmon  in  the  valley  of 
Megiddo. 

12  And  the  land  shall  mourn,  every  family  apart ; 

The  family  of  the  house  of  David  apart,  and  their  wives 

apart ; 
The  family  of  the  house  of  Nathan  apart,  and  their  wives 

apart ; 

13  The  family  of  the  house  of  Levi  apart,  and  their  wives 

apart ; 


OH.  XIII.]  ZECHARIAH.  281 

The  family  of  the  house  of  Sliiraei  apart,  and  their  wives 
apart ; 
14  All  the  families  that  remain, 

Every  family  apart,  and  their  wives  apart. 

1  In  that  day  there  shall  be  a  fountain  opened 

To  the  house  of  David,  and  to  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusa- 
lem, 
For  sin  and  for  uncleanness. 

2  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts, 

That  I  will  cut  off  the  names  of  the  idols  out  of  the  land, 
And  they  shall  no  more  be  remembered ; 
And  the  prophets  also,  and  the  impure  spirit. 
Will  I  cause  to  pass  out  of  the  land. 

3  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  any  one  shall  yet  proph- 

esy, 
That  his  father  and  mother  shall  say  to  him, 
Even  they  that  begat  him,  "Thou  shalt  not  live  ; 
For  thou  hast  spoken  falsehood  in  the  name  of  Jehovah.'* 
And  his  father  and  mother  that  begat  him  shall  pierco 

him  through  when  he  prophesieth. 

4  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day,  that  the  prophet 

shall  be  ashamed 
Every  one  of  his  vision  when  he  prophesieth ; 
Neither  shall  they  wear  a  garment  of  hair,  to  deceive. 

5  But  each  shall  say,  "  I  am  no  prophet ; 
I  am  a  man  that  tilleth  the  ground ; 

For  a  man  hath  purchased  me  from  my  youth." 

6  And  when  one  shall  say  to  him, 

"  What  are  these  wounds  in  thy  hands  ?  " 
He  shall  answer, 

"  Those  with  which  I  was  wounded  in  the  house  of  my 
friends." 


282  ZECHARIAH.  [cH.  xiv 


Times  of  great  calamity,  which  are  to  be  followed,  through  the  aid  of  Jeho- 
vah, by  victory,  prosperity,  and  holiness.  —  Ch.  XIII.  7  —  XIV. 

7  Awake,  O  sword,  against  my  shepherd, 

Even  against  the  man  who  is  my  fellow,  saith  Jehovah  of 

hosts ! 
Smite  the  shepherd,  and  let  the  sheep  be  scattered ! 
I  will  also  turn  my  hand  against  the  lambs. 

8  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  all  the  land,  saith  Jehovah, 
That  two  parts  therein  sLall  be  cut  off  and  die  ; 

But  the  third  part  shall  be  left  therein. 

9  And  I  will  bring  the  third  part  through  the  fire, 
And  will  refine  them,  as  silver  is  refined, 

And  will  try  them,  as  gold  is  tried  ; 

They  shall  call  upon  me,  and  I  will  hear  them  ; 

I  will  say,  "  It  is  my  people." 

And  they  shall  say,  "  Jehovah  is  our  God." 

1  Behold,  the  day  of  Jehovah  cometh, 

When  thy  spoil  shall  be  divided  in  the  midst  of  thee. 

2  For  I  will  gather  all  nations  against  Jerusalem  to  battle ; 
And  the  city  shall  be  taken. 

And  the  houses  shall  be  rifled, 
And  the  women  shall  be  ravished ; 
And  half  of  tlie  city  shdl  go  forth  into  captivity, 
And  the  residue  of  the  people  shall  not  be  cut  off  from 
the  city. 

3  Then  shall  Jehovah  go  forth, 
And  fight  against  those  nations, 

As  he  once  fought  in  the  day  of  battle. 

4  And  bis  feet  shall  stand  in  that  day  upon  the  Mount  of 

Olives, 
Which  is  before  Jerusalem  on  the  east ; 
And  the  Mount  of  Olives  shall  be  cloven  in  the  middle 

of  it,  eastward  and  westward, 
Into  a  very  great  valley  ; 

And  half  of  the  mountain  shall  remove  toward  the  north. 
And  half  of  it  toward  the  south. 

5  And  ye  shall  flee  through  the  valley  of  my  mountains, 


CH.  XIV.]  ZECHARIAH.  283 

For  the  valley  of  the  mountahis  shall  reach  to  Azal ; 
Yea,  ye  shall  flee,  as  ye  fled  before  the  earthquake 
In  the  days  of  Uzziah,  king  of  Judah. 
And  Jehovah,  my  God,  will  come, 
And  all  his  holy  ones  with  him. 

6  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day 

That  there  shall  be  no  light,  but  cold  and  ice ; 

7  And  there  shall  be  one  day, 
(Known  to  Jehovah  is  it,) 

It  shall  be  neither  day  nor  night ; 

But  at  the  time  of  evening  there  shall  be  light. 

8  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day 

That  living  waters  shall  go  out  from  Jerusalem, 
Half  of  them  toward  the  eastern  sea, 
And  half  of  them  toward  the  western  sea ; 
In  summer  and  in  winter  shall  they  be. 

9  And  Jehovah  shall  be  king  over  all  the  earth ; 

In  that  day  shall  Jehovah  be  one,  and  his  name  one. 

10  The  whole  land  shall  be  turned  into  a  plain, 
From  Geba  to  Rimmon,  south  of  Jerusalem ; 

And  the  city  shall  be  exalted  and  inhabited  in  her  place, 

From  the  gate  of  Benjamin  to  the  place  of  the  former 
gate, 

And  to  the  corner  gate. 

And  from  the  tower  of  Hananeel  to  the  king's  wine- 
presses. 

11  Men  shall  dwell  therein, 

And  there  shall  be  no  more  destruction ; 
But  Jerusalem  shall  dwell  securely. 

12  And  this  shall  be  the  plague 

With  which  Jehovah  will  smite  all  the  nations 

Which  warred  against  Jerusalem  : 

Their  flesh  shall  consume  away  while  they  stand  upon 

their  feet, 
And  their  eyes  shall  consume  away  in  their  sockets, 
And  their  tongue  shall  consume  away  in  their  mouth. 

13  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 

That  there  shall  be  a  great  tumult  among  them  from 

Jehovah  ; 
And  they  shall  lay  hold  every  one  on  the  hand  of  his 

neighbor, 


284  ZECHARIAH.  [ch.  xiy. 

And  his  hand  shall   rise   up   against   the    hand   of  his 
neighbor. 

14  And  Judah  also  shall  fight  against  Jerusalem  ; 

But  the  wealth  of  all  the  nations  round  about  shall  be 

gathered  together, 
Gold  and  silver  and  apparel  in  great  abundance. 

15  And  so  shall  be  the  plague  of  the  horse, 
Of  the  mule,  of  the  camel,  and  of  the  ass, 

And  of  every  beast  which  shall  be  in  those  camps, 
Even  as  this  plague. 

16  And  it  shall  be,  that  every  one  that  is  left 

Of  all  the  nations  which  come  against  Jerusalem,. 
Even  they  shall  go  up,  from  year  to  year, 
To  worship  the  King,  Jehovah  of  hosts. 
And  to  keep  the  feast  of  tabernacles. 

17  And  it  shall  be  that  whoso  will  not  go  up, 
Of  the  families  of  the  earth,  to  Jerusalem, 
To  worship  the  King,  Jehovali  of  hosts. 
Upon  them  shall  be  no  rain. 

18  And  if  the  family  of  Egypt  go  not  up,  and  come  not, 
Then  not  for  tliem  shall  there  be  water. 

The  plague  shall  come  upon  them 

With  which  Jehovah  shall  smite  the  nations 

Which  go  not  up  to  keep  the  feast  of  tabernacles. 

19  This  shall  be  the  punishment  of  Egypt, 
And  the  punishment  of  all  the  nations 

That  come  not  up  to  keep  the  feast  of  tabernacles. 

20  In  that  day,  upon  the  bells  of  the  horses 
Shall  be  written,  "  Holy  to  Jehovah." 
And  the  pots  in  the  house  of  Jehovah 
Shall  be  as  the  bowls  before  the  altar. 

21  And  every  pot  in  Jerusalem  and  in  Judah 
Shall  be  holy  to  Jehovah  of  hosts ; 

And  all  that  sacrifice  shall  come, 

And  shall  take  of  them,  and  seethe  therein. 

And  there  shall  be  no  more  a  trader 

In  the  house  of  Jehovah  of  hosts,  in  that  day. 


MALACHI. 


I. 

God's  peculiar  regard  for  tlie  Jewish  nation  manifested  by  a  comparison 
between  Israel  and  Edom.  —  Ch.  I.  1  -  5. 

1  The  prophecy  of  the  word  of  Jehovah,  concerning  Is- 
rael, by  Malachi.  * 

2  I  have  loved  you,  saith  Jehovah. 

But  ye  say,  "  Wherein  hast  thou  loved  us  ?  " 
Was  not  Esau  Jacob's  brother,  saith  Jehovah  ? 
Yet  I  loved  Jacob, 
8  And  Esau  I  hated  ; 
And  I  made  his  mountains  a  desolation. 
And  his  inheritance  to  be  habitations  of  the  desert. 

4  Although  Edom  say,  "  We  are  ruined, 

Yet  will  we  build  again  the  desolate  places," 
Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts : 
They  may  build,  but  I  will  throw  down ; 
And  men  shall  call  them  "  The  impious  land. 
The  people  against  whom  Jehovah  hath  indignation  for- 
ever." 

5  And  your  eyes  shall  see  it,  and  ye  shall  say, 

"  Great  is  Jehovah  beyond  the  borders  of  Israel ! " 


n. 

Against  the  priests,  on  account  of  their  irreligion,  their  violations  of  the 
law,  and  their  complaints  of  wearisome  service.  —  Ch.  I.  6  — 11.  9. 

6       A  SON  honoreth  his  father, 
And  a  servant  his  master ; 


286  MALA  CHI.  [CH.  I. 

If  I,  then,  be  a  father,  where  is  mine  honor? 

And  if  I  be  a  master,  where  is  my  fear  ? 

Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  to  you,  ye  priests  that  despise  my 

name. 
Ye  say,  "  Wherein  do  we  despise  thy  name  ?  " 

7  Ye  bring  polluted  food  to  mine  altar. 

And  ye  say,  "  Wherein  do  we  pollute  thee  ?  " 

In  that  ye  say,  "  The  table  of  Jehovah  is  contemptible.'* 

For  when  ye  bring  the  blind  for  sacrifice, 

[Ye  say,]  "  It  is  not  evil." 

8  And  when  ye  offer  the  lame  and  the  sick,    ' 
[Ye  say,]  "  It  is  not  evil." 

Offer  it,  then,  to  thy  governor  ; 
Will  he  be  pleased  with  thee, 
Or  have  regard  to  thee  ? 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

9  And  now,  I  pray  you,  beseech  God  to  be  gracious  unto  us! 
Since  such  things  are  done  by  you, 

Will  he  have  regard  to  you, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  ? 

10  O  that  some  one  of  you  would  close  the  doors, 

That  ye  might  not  kindle  the  fire  upon  mine  altar  in  vain ! 
I  have  no  pleasure  in  you,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts, 
Neither  will  I  accept  an  offering  at  your  hand. 

11  For  from  the  rising  of  the  sun  even  to  the  going  down  of 

the  same 
My  name  shall  be  great  among  the  nations. 
And  in  every  place  shall  incense  be  offered  to  my  name, 
And  a  pure  offering  ; 

For  my  name  shall  be  great  among  the  nations, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

12  But  ye  profane  it, 

In  that  ye  say,  "  The  table  of  Jehovah  is  polluted, 
And  what  is  offered  thereon,  even  its  food,  is  contempt- 
ible." 

13  Ye  say  also,  "  Behold,  what  weariness  ! " 
And  ye  snuff  at  it, 

Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  ; 

And  ye  bring  that  which  is  plundered,  and  lame,  and  sick, 

And  present  it  for  an  offering ; 

Shall  I  accept  it  at  your  hand  ? 

Saith  Jehovah. 


CH.  II.]  MALACHI.  287 

14  Cursed  be  the  deceiver, 

Who  hath  in  his  flock  a  male, 

And  yet  voweth  and  sacrificeth  to  Jehovah  that  which  is 

marred  ; 
For  I  am  a  great  king,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts ; 
And  my  name  is  terrible  among  the  nations. 

1  And  now  to  you,  0  ye  priests,  is  this  commandment : 

2  If  ye  will  not  hearken, 

If  ye  will  not  lay  it  to  heart. 

To  give  glory  to  my  name,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts, 

I  will  send  a  curse  upon  you. 

And  I  will  curse  your  blessings ; 

Yea,  I  have  cursed  them  already, 

Because  ye  do  not  lay  it  to  heart. 

3  Behold,  I  will  rebuke  your  seed. 
And  I  will  scatter  dung  in  your  faces, 
The  dung  of  your  solemn  feasts, 
And  ye  shall  be  carried  to  it. 

4  And  ye  shall  know  that  I  have  sent  to  you  this  command 

ment. 
That  my  covenant  may  remain  with  Levi, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

5  My  covenant  was  with  him  for  life  and  peace, 
Which  I  gave  to  him  for  the  fear  wherewith  he  feared  me, 
And  was  afraid  before  my  name. 

6  The  law  of  truth  was  in  liis  mouth. 

And  unrighteousness  was  not  found  in  his  lips  ; 
He  walked  with  me  in  truth  and  equity. 
And  turned  many  away  from  iniquity. 

7  For  the  lips  of  the  priest  should  keep  knowledge, 
And  men  should  seek  the  law  from  his  mouth  ° 
For  he  is  the  messenger  of  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

8  But  ye  have  departed  from  the  way. 

Ye  have  caused  many  to  stumble  at  the  law, 
And  ye  have  made  void  the  covenant  with  Levi, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

9  Therefore  will  I  also  make  you 
Despicable  and  base  before  all  the  people ; 
According  as  ye  have  not  kept  my  ways. 
But  have  had  respect  to  persons  in  the  law. 


288  MALACHI.  [CH.  II. 

in. 

Against  marriages  with  foreigners,  and  against  divorces.  —  Ch.  II.  10-  16. 

10  Have  we  not  all  one  Father  ? 
Hath  not  one  God  created  us  ? 

Why  should  we  deal  treacherously  one  against  another, 
And  profane  the  covenant  made  with  our  fathers  ? 

11  Judah  hath  dealt  treacherously, 

And  an  abomination  is  committed  in  Israel  and  in  Jeru- 
salem. 

For  Judah  hath  profaned  the  holy  people  of  Jehovah, 
which  he  loveth, 

And  hath  married  the  daughter  of  a  strange  god. 

12  Jehovah  will  cut  off  the  man  that  doeth  this, 

Him  that  waketh  and  him  that  answereth,  from  the  tents 

of  Jacob, 
And  him  that  bringetli  an  offering  to  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

13  And  this  also  ye  do : 

Ye  cover  the  altar  of  Jehovah  with  tears, 
With  weeping  and  with  groans, 
So  that  he  no  more  hath  regard  to  the  offering, 
Nor  receiveth  it  with  good-will  from  your  hand. 

14  Yet  ye  say,  "  Wherefore  ?  " 

It  is  because  Jehovah  has  been  a  witness  between  thee 

and  the  wife  of  thy  youth, 
Against  whom  thou  hast  dealt  unfaithfully, 
Although  she  was  thy  companion  and  thy  covenanted  wife. 

15  But  did  not  He  make  one  only? 

And  yet  had  he  a  residue  of  the  spirit ; 

And  wherefore  one  ? 

He  sought  a  godly  race. 

Therefore  take  heed  to  your  spirit. 

And  be  not  unfaithful  to  the  wife  of  thy  youth ! 

16  For  I  hate  him  that  putteth  away, 
Saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel, 

And  him  that  covereth  his  garment  with  violence, 

Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

Therefore  take  heed  to  your  spirit,  and  be  not  unfaithful. 


ca.  III.]  MALACHI.  289 

IV. 

judgment  tkreatened  at  the  coming  of  the  Messiah.  —  II.  17  —  III.  6. 

17       Ye  have  wearied  Jehovah  with  your  words ; 
Yet  ye  say,  "  Wherein  have  we  wearied  him  ?  " 
In  that  ye  say,  "  Every  one  of  them  that  do  evil 
Is  good  in  the  sight  of  Jehovah, 
And  in  them  he  hath  delight " ; 
Or,  "  Where  is  the  God  of  judgment?'* 

1  Behold,  I  will  send  my  messenger. 

And  he  shall  prepare  the  way  before  me ; 

And  the  Lord,  whom  ye  seek,  shall  suddenly  come  to  his 

temple ; 
And  the  messenger  of  the  covenant,  whom  ye  desire, 
Behold,  he  shall  come,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

2  But  who  shall  abide  the  day  of  his  coming? 
And  who  sliall  stand  when  he  aj)peareth  ? 
For  he  shall  be  like  the  fire  of  the  refiner, 
And  like  the  soap  of  the  fuller. 

3  And  he  shall  sit  as  a  refiner  and  purifier  of  silver, 
And  he  shall  purity  the  sons  of  Levi, 

And  shall  refine  them  as  gold  and  silver, 
That,  being  holy  to  Jehovah,  they  may  bring  an  offering 
in  righteousness. 

4  Then  shall  the  offering  of  Judah  and  Jerusalem  be  pleas- 

ing to  Jehovah, 
As  in  the  days  of  old, 
And  as  in  former  3'ears. 

5  And  I  will  come  near  to  you  to  judgment ; 
And  I  will  be  a  swift  witness 

Against  sorcerers,  and  against  adulterers,  and  against  false 

swearers, 
And  against  those  who  defraud  the  hireling  of  his  hire, 
And  oppress  the  widow  and  the  fatherless. 
And  turn  aside  the  stranger  from  his  right, 
And  fear  not  me,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

6  For  I  am  Jehovah  ;  I  change  not ; 

Therefore,  ye  sons  of  Jacob,  are  ye  not  consumed. 

VOL.  II.  13 


290  MALA  CHI.  [CH.  III. 


The  people  are  rebuked  for  withholding  the  legal  tithes  and  offerings.  — 
Ch.  III.  7  -  12. 

7  From  the  days  of  your  fathers  have  ye  turned  aside 

from  ray  statutes, 
And  have  not  kept  them ; 
Return  to  me,  and  I  will  return  to  you, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 
But  ye  say,  "  Wherein  shall  we  return  ?  " 

8  Shall  a  man  rob  God, 
That  ye  have  robbed  me  ? 

But  ye  say,  "  Wherein  have  we  robbed  thee  ?  " 
In  tithes  and  offerings. 

9  Ye  are  cursed  with  a  curse. 

For  ye  have  robbed  me,  even  tliis  whole  nation. 

10  Bring  ye  all  the  tithes  into  the  storehouse, 
That  there  be  foo  1  in  my  house ; 

And  try  me  now  in  this, 

Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts, 

Whether  I  will  not  open  to  you  the  windows  of  heaven, 

And  pour  out  upon  you  a  blessing,  until  there  is  none  left. 

11  And  I  will  rebuke  for  yoa  the  devourer. 

And  he  shall  not  destroy  the  fruits  of  your  ground, 
Nor  shall  your  vine  be  barren  in  the  field, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

12  And  all  nations  shall  call  you  blessed ; 
For  ye  shall  be  a  delightful  land, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 


VI. 

Whatever  may  be  the  appearance  of  delay,  reward  will  come  to  the  right- 
eous and  punishment  to  the  wicked.  —  Ch.  III.  13  —  IV. 

13       Your  words  have  been  bold  agai&st  me,  saith  Jeho- 
vah; 
Yet  ye  say,  "  What  have  we  spoken  against  thee  ?  '* 


CH.  IV.]  MALA  CHI.  291 

14  Ye  have  said,  "  It  is  a  vain  tiling  to  serve  God  " ; 

And,  "  Wliat  profit  is  it  that  we  have  kept  his  ordinances, 
And  that  we  have  walked  mournfully  before  Jehovah  of 
hosts  ? 

15  Therefore  we  call  the  proud  happy ; 

Yea,  they  that  do  wickedness  are  built  up ; 
Yea,  they  tempt  God,  and  are  delivered." 

16  Then  they  that  feared  Jehovah  spake  to  one  another, 
And  Jehovah  gave  ear  and  heard; 

And  a  book  of  remembrance  was  written  before  him, 
For  them  that  feared  Jehovah, 
And  that  thought  upon  his  name. 

17  And  they  shall  be  to  me,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 
In  the  day  which  I  appoint,  as  my  own  possession ; 
And  I  will  spare  them. 

As  a  father  spareth  his  own  son  that  serveth  him. 

18  Then  shall  ye  return  and  see 

What  is  the   difference   between  the  righteous  and  the 

wicked. 
Between  him  who  serveth  God 
And  him  who  serveth  him  not. 

1  For,  behold,   the  day   cometh,  which  shall   burn  as   aa 

oven  ; 
Then  shall  all  the  proud, 
And  all  that  do  wickedness,  be  stubble ; 
And  the  day  that  cometh  shall  burn  them  up, 
Saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  ; 
It  shall  leave  them  neither  root  nor  branch. 

2  But  for  you  that  fear  my  name 
Shall  the  sun  of  salvation  arise 
With  healing  under  his  wings. 

And  ye  shall  go  forth  and  leap  for  joy, 
Like  calves  of  the  stall. 

3  And  ye  shall  tread  down  the  wicked ; 

For  they  shall  be  as  dust  under  the  soles  of  your  feet 
In  the  day  which  I  appoint,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

4  Remember  ye  the  law  of  Moses,  jny  servant, 
Which  I  commanded  him  in  Horeb  for  all  Israel, 
My  statutes  and  precepts  ! 

5  Behold,  I  will  send  you  Elijah,  the  prophet, 


^92  MALACHI.  LCH.  IV. 

Before  the  day  of  Jehovah  come, 
The  great  and  terrible  day. 
6  He  shall  turn  the  heart  of  the  fathers  to  the  children, 
And  the  heart  of  the  children  to  their  fathers, 
That  I  may  not  come 
And  smite  the  land  with  a  curse. 


JONAH 


Jonah's  commission  to  Nineveh,  his  disobedience,  and  his  punishment.  -  - 

Ch.  I. 

1  Now  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  Jonah,  the  son  of 

2  Amittai,  saying,  Arise,  go  to  Nineveh,  that  great  city,  and 
cry  against  it ;  for  their  wickedness  is  come  up  before  me. 

3  But  Jonah  rose  up  to  flee  to  Tarshish  from  the  pres- 
ence of  Jehovah  ;  and  he  went  down  to  Joppa,  and  found 
a  ship  going  to  Tarshish,  and  paid  the  fare  thereof,  and 
went  down  into  it,  to  go  with  them  to  Tarshish  from  the 
presence  of  Jehovah. 

4  But  Jehovah  sent  forth  a  great  wind  upon  the  sea,  and 
there  was  a  mighty  tempest  in  the  sea,  so  that  the  ship 

5  was  like  to  be  broken  in  pieces.  Then  the  mariners  were 
afraid,  and  cried  every  man  to  his  god.  And  they  cast 
forth  the  things  that  were  in  the  ship  into  the  sea,  to 
lighten  it  of  them.     But  Jonah  had  gone  down  to  the  low- 

6  er  part  of  the  ship,  and  he  lay  and  was  fast  asleep.  And 
the  shipmaster  came  to  him,  and  said  to  him.  What  mean- 
est thou,  O  sl-eeper?     Arise,  call  upon  thy  God!     Per- 

7  haps  God  will  think  upon  us,  that  we  perish  not.  And 
they  said  one  to  another,  come,  and  let  us  cast  lots,  that 
we  may  know  on  whose  account  this  evil  is  upon  us ! 
And  they  cast  lots,  and  the  lot  fell  upon  Jonah. 

8  Then  said  they  to  him.  Tell  us,  we  pray  thee,  on  whose 
account  this  evil  is  upon  us.  What  is  thy  business  ?  And 
whence  comest  thou  ?     What  is  thy  country  ?     And  of 

9  what  people  art  thou  ?  And  he  said  to  them,  I  am  a  He- 
brew ;  and  I  fear  Jehovah,  the  God  of  heaven,  who  made 

10  the  sea  and  the  dry  land.    Then  were  the  men  exceedingly 


294  JONAH.  [CH.  IL 

afraid,  and  said  to  him,  Wherefore  hast  thou  done  this  ? 
For  the  men  knew  that  he  fled  from  the  presence  of  Jeho- 

11  vah,  because  he  had  told  them.  Then  said  they  to  him. 
What  shall  we  do  to  thee,  that  the  sea  may  be  calm  to  us  ? 

12  For  the  sea  grew  more  and  more  tempestuous.  And  ho 
said  to  them,  Take  me  up,  and  cast  me  forth  into  the  sea ; 
and  the  sea  shall  be  calm  to  you.  For  I  know  that  be- 
cause of  me  this  gi'eat  tempest  is  upon  you. 

13  Nevertheless  the  men  rowed  hard  to  bring  the  ship  to 
the  land ;  but  they  could  not ;  for  the  sea  grew  more  and 

14  more  tempestuous  against  them.  And  they  cried  to  Jeho- 
vah, and  said,  We  beseech  thee,  O  Jehovah,  we  beseech 
thee,  let  us  not  perish  for  the  life  of  this  man,  and  lay 
not  upon  us  innocent  blood !     For  thou,  O  Jehovah,  hast 

15  done  as  it  pleased  thee.  And  they  took  up  Jonah,  and 
cast  him  forth  into  the  sea ;  and  the  sea  ceased  from  its 

16  raging.  Tlien  the  men  feared  Jehovah  exceedingly,  and 
offered  sacrifice  to  Jehovah,  and  made  vows. 

17  Now  Jehovah  had  appointed  a  great  fish  to  swallow  up 
Jonah.  And  Jonah  was  in  the  belly  of  the  fish  three 
days  and  three  nights. 


n. 

Jonah's  prayer  and  deliverance.  —  Ch.  II. 

1  Then  Jonah  prayed  to  Jehovah  from  the  belly  of  the 

2  fish,  and  said :  — 

I  cried  by  reason  of  my  distress  to  Jehovah, 
And  he  heard  me  : 

Out  of  the  depth  of  the  under-world  I  cried, 
And  thou  didst  hear  my  voice. 

3  Thou  didst  cast  me  into  the  deep,  into  the  heart  of  the  sea, 
And  the  flood  compassed  me  about; 

All  thy  billows  and  thy  waves  passed  over  me. 

4  And  I  said,  "  I  am  cast  out  from  before  thine  eyes ; 
Yet  I  will  look  again  to  thy  holy  temple ! " 

5  The  waters  compassed  me  about,  even  to  the  life. 
The  deep  enclosed  me  round  about ; 


CH.  III.]  JONAH  29r) 

Sea-weeds  were  bound  around  my  head ; 

6  I  sank  down  to  the  foundations  of  the  mountains  ; 
The  bars  of  the  earth  were  about  me  forever ; 

Yet  hast  thou  brought  up  my  life  from  the  pit,  O  Jeho- 
vah, my  God ! 

7  When  my  soul  fainted  within  me,  I  remembered  Jehovah, 
And  my  prayer  came  to  thee, 

To  thy  holy  temple. 

8  They  that  honor  lying  vanities  forsake  their  mercy; 

9  But  I  will  sacrifice  to  thee  with  the  voice  of  thanksgiving ; 
I  will  pay  that  which  I  have  vowed ; 

Salvation  is  from  Jehovah. 

10       And  Jehovah  commanded  the  fish,  and  it  cast  out  Jo 
nah  upon  the  dry  laud. 


m. 

Jonah's  second  corauiissiou  to  Nineveh,  which  he  does  not  decline.    The 
effect  of  it.     His  displeasure,  and  its  reproof.  —  Ch.  IH.,  IV. 

1  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  Jonah  the  second 

2  time,  saying,  Arise,  go  to  Nineveh,  that  great  city,  and 
proclaim  to  her  the  words  which  I  shall  speak  to  thee. 

3  And  Jonah  arose  and  went  to  Nineveh,  according  to  the 
word  of  Jehovah. 

Now  Nineveh  was  through    God  a  great  city,  three 

4  days'  journey  in  extent.  And  Jonah  began  to  enter  into 
the  city  a  day's  journey,  and  he  cried  out  and  said.  Yet 
forty  days,  and  Nineveh  shall  be  overthrown. 

5  And  the  men  of  Nineveh  believed  God,  and  proclaimed 
a  fast,  and  put  on  sackcloth,  from  the  greatest  of  them 

6  even  to  the  least  of  them.  For  when  tlie  matter  came 
to  the  king  of  Nineveh,  he  arose  from  his  throne,  and 
put  off  his  mantle  and  covered  himself  with  sackcloths 

*7  and  sat  in  ashes.     And  he  caused  it  to  be  proclftiji^ed 

and   published  through   Nineveh  by  the   decree  i^OtCuPthe 

king  and  his  nobles,  saying,  Let  neither  map  (Uprz/bfi^st, 

herd  nor  flock,  taste  anything;  let  thems;$iiQj;;,fejet<^fiPor 

8  drink  water.     But  let  man  and  beast  be  covered  witk 


296  JONAH.  [CH.  IV 

sackcloth,  and  cry  mightily  to  God.     Yea,  lei  them  turn 

every  one  from  his  evil  way,  and  from  the  violence  that  is 

9  in  their  hands.    ^\Tio  can  tell  if  God  will  turn  and  repent, 

and  turn  away  from  his  fierce  anger,  that  we  perish  not  ? 
10       And  God  saw  their  works,  that  they  turned  from  their 
evil  way:  and  God  repented  of  the  evil  which  he  had 
said  that  he  would  do  to  them,  and  he  did  it  not. 

1  But  this  displeased   Jonah  exceedingly,  and  he    was 

2  very  angry.  And  he  prayed  to  Jehovah  and  said,  Ah  ! 
Jehovah,  was  not  this  what  I  said,  when  I  was  yet  in 
my  own  country?  Therefore  I  made  haste  to  flee  to 
Tarshish.  For  I  knew  that  thou  art  a  gracious  and 
merciful  God,  slow  to  anger  and  abundant  in  mercy,  and 

8  that  thou  repentest  of  a  threatened  evil.  And  now,  O 
Jehovah,  take,  I  pray  thee,  my  life  from  me !  for  it  is 

4  better  for  me  to  die  than  to  live.  And  Jehovah  said,  Is 
it  right  that  thou  shouldst  be  angry  ? 

5  Now  Jonah  had  gone  out  of  the  city,  and  had  sat  on 
the  east  side  of  the  city,  and  had  made  himself  a  booth 
there,  and  had  sat  under  it  in  the  shade,  till  he  should 

6  see  what  would  become  of  the  city.  And  God,  Jehovah, 
appointed  a  gourd;  and  it  grew  up  over  Jonah  to  be  a 
shadow  over  his  head,  to  deliver  him  from  his  distress. 
And  Jonah  was  exceedingly  glad  of  the  gourd. 

7  But  God  appointed  a  worm  when  the  morning  rose 
the  next  day,  and  it  smote  the  gourd  so  that  it  withered. 

8  And  when  the  sun  arose,  God  appointed  a  sultry  east 
wind  ;  and  the  sun  beat  upon  the  head  of  Jonah,  and  he 
was  faint,  and  he  asked  for  himself  death,  and  said,  It  is 
better  for  me  to  die  than  to  live. 

9  And  God  said  to  Jonah,  Is  it  right  that  thou  shouldst 
be  angry  for  the  gourd  ?     And  he  said.  It  is  right  that  I 

10  should  be  angry  even  to  death.  And  Jehovah  said.  Thou 
hast  had  pity  on  the  gourd  for  which  thou  hast  not  la- 
bored, and  which  thou  madest  not  to  grow,  which  grew 

11  up  in  a  night  and  perished  in  a  night ;  and  should  not  I 
spare  Nineveh,  the  great  city,  wherein  are  more  than  a 
hundred  and  twenty  thousand  persons  that  cannot  discern 
between  their  right  hand  and  their  left  "^  tu^J,  and  also 
many  cattle  ? 


DANIEL. 


Daniel's  captivity  and  elevation. —  Ch.  I, 

1  In  the  third  year  of  the  reign  of  Jehoiakim,  the  king  of 
Judah,  came  Nebuchadnezzar,  tlie  king  of  Babylon,  against 

2  Jerusalem,  and  besieged  it.  And  the  Lord  gave  Jehoiakim, 
the  king  of  Judah,  into  his  hand,  with  part  of  the  vessels 
of  the  house  of  God ;  and  he  cairied  them  into  the  land 
of  Shinar,  to  the  house  of  his  god  ;  and  he  brouglit  the 

3  vessels  into  the  treasure-house  of  his  £:od.  And  the  kingf 
commanded  Ashpenaz,  the  master  of  his  eunuchs,  that  he 
should  brinoj  certain  of  the  sons  of  Israel  of  the  kinsf's 

4  race,  and  of  the  princes,  youths  in  wliom  was  no  blemish, 
and  well  favored,  and  skilful  in  all  wisdom,  and  having 
knowledge  and  intelligence  and  strength,  to  stand  as  ser- 
vants in  the  king's  palace,  and  be  taught  the  writing  and 

5  the  language  of  the  Chaldaians.  And  the  king  appointed 
them  a  daily  provision  of  the  kingjs  food,  and  of  the  wine 
which  he  drank  ;  so  nourishing  them  three  years,  that  at 
the  end  thereof  they  might  stand  as  servants  before  the 

6  king.     Now  among  these   were,  of  the  sons  of  Judah, 

7  Daniel,  Hananiah,  Mishnel,  and  Azariah.  And  the  prince 
of  the  eunuchs  gave  them  other  names.  To  Daniel  he 
gave  the  name  of  Belteshazzar ;  and  to  Hananiah,  of 
Shadrach  ;  and  to  Mishael,  of  Meshach  ;  and  to  Azariah, 
of  Abednego. 

8  But  Daniel  purposed  in  his  heart  that  he  would  not 
defile  himself  with  the  portion  of  the  king's  meat,  nor 
with  the  wine  which  he  drank  ;  therefore  he  requested 
of  the  prince  of  the  eunuchs  that  he  might  not  defile  him- 

9  self.     And  God  gave  Daniel  favor  and  kindness  from  the 

13* 


298  ^  DANIEL.  [CH.  II. 

10  prince  of  the  eunuchs.  And  the  prince  of  the  eunuchs 
said  to  Daniel,  I  fear  my  lord  the  king,  who  hath  ap- 
pointed your  meat  and  your  drink ;  for  he  might  see  your 
faces  in  worse  condition  than  the  youths  of  your  age  ; 
then  shall  ye  make  me  endanger  my  head  to  the  king. 

11  Then  said  Daniel  to  the  steward  whom  the  prince  of  the 
eunuchs  had  set   over   Daniel,   Hananiah,   Mishael,  and 

12  Azariah,  Try  thy  servants  ten  days,  and  let  them  give  us 

13  pulse  to  eat,  and  water  to  drink.  Then  let  our  counte- 
nances be  looked  upon  before  thee,  and  the  countenances 
of  the  youths  that  eat  of  the  portion  of  the  king's  meat ; 

14  and  as  thou  seest,  deal  with  thy  servants.  And  he  con- 
sented to  them  in  this  matter,  and  tried  them  ten  days. 

15  And  at  the  end  of  ten  days  their  countenances  appeared 
fairer  and  fatter  in  flesh  than  all  the  youths  who  ate  the 

16  portion  of  the  king's  meat.  So  the  steward  took  away  the 
portion  of  their  meat,  and  the  wine  which  they  should 
drink,  and  gave  them  pulse. 

17  And  God  gave  these  four  youths  knowledge  and  skill 
in  all  learning  and  wisdom  ;  and  Daniel  had  understand- 

18  ing  in  all  visions  and  dreams.  And  at  the  end  of  the 
days,  when  the  king  had  commanded  him  to  bring  them 
before  him,  then  the  prince  of  the  eunuchs  brought  them 

19  in  before  Nebuchadnezzar.  And  the  king  conversed  with 
them  ;  and  among  them  all  was  found  none  like  Daniel, 
Hananiah,  INIishael,  and  Azariah.     Therefore  they  stood 

20  as  servants  before  the  king.  And  in  all  matters  of  wis- 
dom and  understanding  concerning  which  the  king  in- 
quired of  them,  he  found  them  ten  times  better  than  all 
the   scribes  and  magicians  that  were   in   all  his  realm. 

21  And  Daniel  lived  even  to  the  first  year  of  Cyrus  the 
king. 


n. 

Nebuchadnezzar's  dream,  and  its  interpretation  by  Daniel.  —  Ch.  II. 

1       And  in  the  second  year  of  the  reign  of  Nebuchadnez- 
zar,  Nebuchadnezzar   dreamed   dreams,    on    account   of 


CH.  II.]  DANIEL.  299 

which  his  sphit  was  troubled,  and  his  sleep  went  from 

2  him.  Then  the  king  commanded  to  call  the  scribes,  and 
the  magicians,  and  the  sorcerers,  and  the  Chaldteans,  that 
they  might  show  the  king  his  dreams  ;  and  they  came  and 

3  stood  before  the  king.  And  the  king  said  to  them,  I 
have  dreamed  a  dream,  and  my  spirit  is  troubled  to  know 

4  the  dream.  And  the  Chaldeans  said  to  the  king  in 
Aramaean,  0  king,  live  forever!     Tell  thy  servants  the 

5  dream,  and  we  will  show  the  interpretation.  The  king 
answered  and  said  to  the  Chalda3ans :  The  word  has  gone 
from  me.  If  ye  will  not  make  known  to  me  the  dream 
and  the  interpretation  thereof,  ye  shall  be  cut  in  pieces, 

6  and  your  houses  shall  be  made  a  dunghill.  But  if  ye 
show  the  dream  and  the  interpretation  thereof,  ye  shall 
receive  from  me  gifts,  and  rewards,  and  great  honor. 
Therefore  show  me   the  dream,  and    its    interpretation ! 

7  They  answered  again  and  said.  Let  the  king  tell  his  ser- 
vants the  dream,  and  we  will  show  the  interpretation  of 

8  it.  The  king  answered  and  said,  I  know  of  a  certain, 
that  ye  seek  to  gain  time,  because  ye  see  that  the  word 

9  hath  gone  forth  from  me.  For  if  ye  do  not  make 
known  to  me  the  dream,  this  alone  is  your  purpose,  and 
ye  have  prepared  lying  and  deceitful  words  to  speak 
before  me  till  the  time  be  changed.  Tell  me  therefore 
the  dream,  and  I  shall  know  that  ye  can  show  me  the 

10  interpretation  thereof.  The  Chaldieans  answered  before 
the  king,  and  said :  There  is  not  a  man  upon  the  earth 
who  can  show  what  the  king  requireth ;  on  which  account 
no  king,  however  great  and  powerful,  hath  asked   such 

11  things  of  any  scribe,  or  magician,  or  Chaldasan.  It  is 
a  hard  thing  which  the  king  requireth,  and  there  is  none 
other  that  can  show  it  before  the  king,  except  the  gods, 
whose  dwelling  is  not  with  men. 

12  For  this  cause  the  king  was  angry  and  very  furious, 
and  commanded  to  destroy  all  the  wise  men  of  Babylon. 

13  And  the  decree  went  forth  that  the  wise  men  should  be 
slain;  and  they  sought   Daniel  and   his  fellows,  to  slay 

14  them.  Then  Daniel  answered  with  understanding  and 
wisdom  to  Arioch,  the  captain  of  the  king's  guard,  who 

15  was  gone  forth  to  slay  the  wise  men  of  Babylon.  He  an- 
swered and  said  to  Arioch,  the  king's  captain,  Why  is  the 
decree  so  hasty  from  the  king  ?     Then  Ariuch  made  th« 


300  DANIEL.  [cii.  II. 

16  thing  known  to  Daniel.  Then  Daniel  went  in,  and  de- 
sired of  the  king  that  he  would  give  him  time,  and  that 

17  he  would  show  the  king  the  interpretation.  Then  Daniel 
went  to  his  house,  and  made  the  thing  known  to  Hana- 

18  niah,  Mishael,  and  Azariah,  his  companions  ;  that  they 
would  desire  mercies  of  the  God  of  heaven,  concerning 
tliis  secret;  that  Daniel  and  his  fellows  should  not  perish, 
with  the  rest  of  the  wise  men  of  Babylon. 

19  Then  was  the  secret  revealed  to  Daniel  in  a  night  vis- 

20  ion.  Then  Daniel  blessed  tlie  God  of  heaven.  Daniel 
spake  and  said :  Blessed  be  the  name  of  God  for  ever  and 

21  ever!  for  wisdom  and  might  are  his.  And  he  changetli 
times  and  seasons;  he  removeth  kings,  and  setteth  up 
kings ;  he  giveth  wisdom  to  the  wise,  and  knowledge  to 

22  them  that  have  understanding.  He  revealeth  deep  and 
secret  things ;  he  knoweth  what  is  in  darkness,  and  light 

23  dwelleth  with  him.  I  thank  thee  and  praise  thee,  O  tiiou 
God  of  my  fathers,  who  hast  given  me  wisdom  and  might, 
and  hast  made  known  to  me  now  what  we  desired  of  thee ; 
for  thou  hast  now  made  known  to  us  the  king's  matter. 

24  Therefore  Daniel  went  in  to  Arioch,  whom  the  king  had 
appointed  to  destroy  the  wise  men  of  l>abylon  ;  he  went 
and  said  thus  to  him :  Destroy  not  the  wise  men  of  Baby- 
lon ;  bring  me  in  before  tlie  king,  and  I  will  show  to  the 

25  king  the  interpretation.  Then  Arioch  biought  in  Daniel 
before  the  king  in  haste,  and  said  tlius  to  him :  I  have 
ibund   a  man   of  the  captives  of  Judah  that  will   make 

26  known  to  the  king  the  interpretation.  The  king  answered 
and  said  to  Daniel,  whose  name  was  Belteshazzar,  Art  thou 
able  to  make  known  to  me  the  dream  which  I  have  seen, 

27  and  the  interpretjition  thereof?  Daniel  answered  in  the 
presence  of  the  king,  and  said,  The  secret  which  the  king 
liath  demanded,  the  wise  men,  the  scribes,  the  magicians, 

28  the  astrologers  cannot  show  to  the  king ;  but  there  is  a 
God  in  heaven  that  revealeth  secrets,  and  maketh  known 
to  King  Nebuchadnezzar  what  shall  be  in  the  days  to 
come.     Thy  dream  and  the  visions  of  thy  head  upon  thy 

29  bed  were  these.  Thy  thoughts,  0  king,  came  into  thy 
mind,  what  should  come  to  })ass  hereafter ;  and  he  that 
revealeth  secrets  maketh  known  to  thee  what  ehall  come 

30  to  pass.  But  as  for  me,  this  secret  is  not  revealed  to  me 
through  any  wisdom  which  I  have  more  than  all  the  liv- 


CH.  II.]  DANIEL.  301 

iug,  but  to  the  end  that  the  Interpretation  might  be  made 
known  to  the  king,  and  that  thou  mightest  know  the 
thoughts  of  thy  heart. 

31  Thou,  0  king,  sawest,  and  behold,  a  great  image.  This 
image,  which  was  high  and  of  surpassing  brightness,  stood 

32  before  thee ;  and  its  form  was  terrible.  The  head  of  this 
image  was  of  fine  gold  ;  his  breast  and  his  arms  of  silver  ; 

33  his  belly  and   his  thighs  of  brass  ;  his  legs  of  iron  ;  his 

34  feet,  part  of  iron  and  part  of  clay.  Thou  sawest  till  a 
stone  was  cut  out  without  hands,  which  smote  the  image 
upon  his  feet,  that  were  of  iron  and  clay,  and  broke  them 

35  to  pieces.  Then  was  the  iron,  the  clay,  the  brass,  the  sil- 
ver, and  the  gold  broken  to  pieces  together,  and  became 
like  chaff  from  the  summer  threshing-floors,  and  the  wind 
carried  them  away,  so  that  no  place  was  found  for  them ; 
and  the  stone  that  smote  the  image  became  a  great  moun- 

36  tain,  and  filled  the  whole  earth.  This  is  the  dream,  and 
now  we  will  tell  the  interpretation  of  it  before  the  king. 

37  Thou,  O  king,  art  a  king  of  kings  ;  for  the  God  of  heav- 
en hath  given  thee  a  kingdom,  power  and  strength  and 

38  glory.  And  wheresoever  the  children  of  men  dwell,  the 
beasts  of  the  field  and  the  birds  of  heaven  hath  he  given 
into  thy  hand,  and  hath  made  thee  ruler  over  them  all. 

39  Thou  art  the  head  of  gold.  And  after  thee  shall  arise 
another  kingdom,  inferior  to  thee ;  and  another  third 
kingdom  of  brass,  which  shall  bear  rule  over  all  the  earth. 

40  And  a  fourth  kingdom  shall  be  strong  as  iron ;  forasmuch 
as  iron  breaketh  in  pieces  and  subdueth  all  things ;  even 
as  iron,  that  breaketh  all  these,  shall  it  break  in  pieces  and 

41  bruise.  And  whereas  thou  sawest  the  feet  and  toes  part 
of  potter's  clay  and  part  of  iron,  it  shall  be  a  divided  king- 
dom ;  but  there  shall  be  in  it  of  the  strength  of  the  iron, 
forasmuch  as  thou  sawest  the  iron  mixed  with  miry  clay. 

42  And  as  the  toes  of  the  feet  were  part  of  iron  and  part  of 
clay,  so  the  kingdom  shall  be   partly  strong  and  partly 

43  broken.  And  whereas  thou  sawest  iron  mixed  with  miry 
clay,  they  shall  mingle  themselves  by  marriage,  but  they 
shall  not  cleave  to  each  other,  even  as  iron  is  not  mixed 

44  with  clay.     But  in  the  days  of  these  kings  shall  the  God 
of  heaven  set  up  a  kingdom  which  shall   never  be  de- 
stroyed; and  the  kingdom  shall  be  left  to  no  other  people 
but  it  shall  break  in  [lieces  and  consume  all  these  king- 


802  DANIEL.  [CH.  III. 

45  doms,  and  it  shall  stand  forever  ;  even  as  thou  sawest  that 
the  stone  was  cut  out  of  the  mountain  without  hands,  and 
that  it  broke  in  pieces  the  iron,  the  brass,  the  clay,  the  sil- 
ver, and  the  gold.  The  great  God  hath  made  known  to 
the  king  what  shall  come  to  pass  hereafter  ;  and  the  dream 
is  certain,  and  the  interpretation  thereof  sure. 

46  Then  King  Nebuchadnezzar  fell  upon  his  face  and  wor- 
shipped Daniel,  and  commanded   that  they  should  offer 

47  an  oblation  and  sweet  odors  to  him.  The  king  answered 
Daniel  and  said.  Of  a  truth,  your  God  is  the  God  of  gods, 
and  the  Lord  of  kings,  and  the  revealer  of  secrets,  since 

48  thou  couldst  reveal  this  secret.  Then  the  king  made 
Daniel  a  great  man,  and  gave  him  many  great  gifts,  and 
made  him  ruler  over  the  whole  province  of  Babylon, 
and  chief  of  the  governors  over  all  the  wise  men  of  Baby- 

49  Ion.  Then  Daniel  requested  of  the  king,  and  he  set 
Shadrach,  Mcshach,  and  Abednego  over  the  affairs  of  the 
province  of  Babylon;  but  Daniel  was  in  the  gate  of  the 
kins:. 


m. 

Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abednego  are  cast  into  a  furnace,  for  refusing  to 
worship  a  golden  image,  and  come  out  of  it  unhurt.  —  Ch.  III. 

1  Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  made  an  image  of  gold, 
whose  height  wa'S  sixty  cubits,  and  whose  breadth  was  six 
cubits.     He  set  it  up  in  the  plain  of  Dura,  in  the  province 

2  of  Babylon.  Then  Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  sent  to 
gather  together  the  satraps,  the  prefects,  and  the  deputy 
governors,  the  chief  judges,  the  treasurers,  the  judges,  the 
counsellors,  and  all  the  rulers  of  the  provinces,  to  come  to 
the  dedication  of  the   image  whicli  Nebuchadnezzar  the 

3  king  had  set  up.  Then  the  satraps,  prefects,  and  deputy 
governors,  the  chief  judges,  treasurers,  judges,  counsellors, 
and  all  the  rulers  of  the  provinces  were  gathered  together 
to  the  dedication  of  the  image  which  Nebuchadnezzar 
the  king  had  set  up  ;  and  they  stood  before   the  image 

.4  which    Nebuchadnezzar   the   king  had  set   up.     Then   a 


CH.  III.]  DANIEL.  803 

herald  cried  aloud  :  To  you  it  is  commanded,  0  people,  na- 
6  tions,  and  languages,  that  at  the  time  ye  hear  the  sound 
of  the  horn,  the  pipe,  the  harp,  the  sambuck,  the  psaltery, 
the  bagpipe,  and  all  kinds  of  music,  ye  fall  down  and  wor- 
ship the  golden  image  which  Nebuchadnezzar  the    king 

6  hath  set  up.  And  whoso  doth  not  fall  down  and  worsliip 
shall  the  same  hour  be  cast  into  the  midst  of  a  buraing 

7  fiery  furnace.  Therefore  at  the  time  when  all  the  {jcoplc 
heard  the  sound  of  the  horn,  the  pipe,  the  harp,  the  sam- 
buck,  the  psaltery,  and  all  kinds  of  music,  all  the  people, 
the  nations,  and  the  languages  fell  down  and  worshipped 
the  golden  image  which  Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  had 
set  up. 

8  Wherefore  at  that  time  certain  Chakteans  came  near, 

9  and  accused   the  Jews.     They  spake  and  said  to  King 

10  Nebuchadnezzar,  O  king,  live  forever!  Thou,  O  king, 
hast  made  a  decree,  that  every  man  that  shall  hear  the 
sound  of  the  horn,  the  pipe,  the  harp,  the  sambuek,  the 
psaltery,  the  bagpipe,  and  all   kinds  of  music,  shall  fall 

11  down  and  worship  the  golden  image;  and  that  whoso 
doth  not  fall  down  and  worship  shall    be  cast  into  the 

12  midst  of  a  burning  fiery  furnace.  Now  there  are  certain 
Jews  whom  thou  hast  set  over  the  affiiirs  of  the  province 
of  Babylon,  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abednego,  these 
men,  O  king,  have  not  regarded  thee ;  they  serve  not  thy 
gods,  nor  worship  the  golden  image  which  thou  hast  set 
up. 

13  Then  Nebuchadnezzar  in  rage  and  fury  commanded  to 
bring    Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abednego.     Then    they 

14  brought  these  men  before  the  king.  Nebuchadnezzar 
spake  and  said  to  them,  Was  it  by  design,  O  Shadrach, 
Meshach,  and  Abednego?     Do  ye  not  serve  my  gods,  nor 

15  worship  the  golden  image  which  I  have  set  up  ?  Now  if 
ye  be  ready  that  at  the  time  ye  hear  the  sound  of  the 
horn,  the  pipe,  the  harp,  the  sambuek,  the  psaltery,  the 
bagpipe,  and  all  kinds  of  music,  ye  fall  down  and  worship 
the  image  which  I  have  set  up,  well !  but  if  ye  worship 
not,  ye  shall  be  cast  the  same  hour  into  the  midst  of  a 
burning  fiery  furnace;  and  who  is  the  God  that  shall 
deliver  you  out  of  my  hands  ? 

16  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abednego  answered  and  said 


304  DANIEL.  [CH.  Ill, 

to  the  king,  O  Nebuchadnezzar,  we  have  no  need  to  an- 

17  swer  thee  in  this  matter.  Behold,  our  God,  whom  we 
serve,  is  able  to  deliver  us  from  the  burning  fiery  furnace, 

18  and  he  will  deliver  us  out  of  thy  hand,  O  king !  But  if 
not,  be  it  known  to  thee,  O  king,  that  we  will  not  serve 
thy  gods,  nor  worship  the  golden  image  which  thou  hast 
set  up. 

19  Then  was  Nebuchadnezzar  full  of  fury,  and  the  form 
of  his  visage  was  changed  against  Shadrach,  Meshach, 
and  Abednego.  And  he  spake  and  commanded  that  they 
should    heat   the    furnace  seven  times  more  than  it  was 

20  wont  to  be  heated.  And  he  commanded  the  mightiest 
men  in  his  army  to  bind  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed- 
nego, and  to  cast  them    into  the  burning    fiery  furnace. 

21  Then  these  men  were  bound  in  tlieir  trousers,  their 
under-garments,  their  mantles,  and  their  other  clothing, 
and  were  cast  into  the  midst  of  the  burning  fiery  furnace. 

22  And  because  the  command  of  the  king  was  urgent,  and 
the  furnace  exceeding  hot,  the  flame  of  the  fire  killed 
those  men  that  took  up  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed- 

23  nego.  And  these  three  men,  Sliadracli,  INIeshach,  and 
Abednego,  fell  down  bound  into  the  midst  of  the  burning 
fiery  furnace. 

21  Tlien  Nebuchadnezzar,  the  king,  was  astonished,  and 
rose  up  in  haste,  and  spake,  and  said  to  his  counsellors, 
Did  we  not  cast  three  men  bound  into  the  midst  of  the 
fire?     They  answered   and  said    to    the  king.   True,   O 

25  king!  Pie  answered  and  said,  Behold,  T  see  four  men 
loo>e,  walking  in  the  midst  of  the  fire,  and  they  have  no 
hurt,  and  the  ap})earance  of  the  fourth  is  like  a  son  of  the 

26  gods.  Then  Nebuchadnezzar  came  near  to  the  mouth  of 
the  burning  fiery  furnace,  and  spake  and  said,  Shadrach, 
Meshach,  and  Abednego,  ye  servants  of  the  Most  High 
God,  come  forth !  Then  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed- 
nego came  forth  out  of  the  midst  of  the  fire. 

27  And  the  satraps,  prefects,  and  dej)uty  governors,  and 
the  counsellors  of  the  king,  being  gathered  together,  saw 
these  men,  upon  whose  bodies  the  fire  had  no  power,  nor 
was  a  hair  of  their  head  singed,  nor  were  their  trousers 

28  changed,  nor  had  the  smell  of  fire  passed  on  them.  Then 
Nebuchadnezzar  spake  and  said.  Blessed  be  the  God  of 
Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abedueao,    v;lio  hath    sent   his 


CH.  iv.J  DANIEL.  305 

angel,  and  delivered  his  servants,  that  trusted  in  him,  and 
disobeyed  the  command  of  the  king,  and  gave  up  their 
bodies,  that  they  might  not  serve  nor  worship  any  god 

29  except  their  own  God !  Therefore  I  make  a  decree,  that 
every  people,  nation,  and  language  which  speaks  anythin^r 
reproachftd  against  the  God  of  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and 
Abednego,  shall  be  cut  in  pieces,  and  its  houses  sliall  be 
made  a  dunghill ;  because  there  is  no  other  God  that  can 

30  deliver  in  this  manner.  Then  the  king  promoted  Sha- 
drach, Meshach,  and  Abednego  in  the  province  of  Baby- 
lon. 


lY. 

Nebuchadnezzar's  dream.    Its  interpretation  and  fuiaiment.  —  Ch.  IV. 

1  Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  to  all  people,  nations, 
and  languages  that  dwell  upon  the  whole  earth.     Peace 

2  be  multiplied  to  you !  I  have  thought  it  good  to  show 
the  signs  and  wonders  which  the  Most  High  God  hath 

3  wrought  toward  me.  How  great  are  his  signs,  and  how 
mighty  are  his  wonders  !  His  kingdom  is  an  everlasting 
kingdom,  and  his  dominion  endureth  from  generation  to 

4  generation.     I,  Nebuchadnezzar,  was  at  ease  in  my  house, 

5  and  flourishing  in  my  palace.  There  I  saw  a  dream 
which  made  me  afraid,  and  the  thoughts  upon  my  bed 

6  and  the  visions  of  my  head  troubled  me.  Therefore 
made  I  a  decree  to  bring  in  all  the  wise  men  of  Babylon 
before  me ;  that  they  might  make  known  to  me  the  inter- 

7  pretation  of  the  dream.  Then  came  in  the  scribes,  the 
magicians,  the  Chaldasans,  and  the  astrologers;  and  I 
told  the  dream  before   tliem  ;•  but   they   did   not   make 

8  known  to  me  its  interpretation.  But  at  the  last  Daniel 
came  in  before  me,  whose  name  is  Belteshazzar,  accord- 
ing to  the  name  of  my  god,  and  in  whom  is  the  spirit  of 

9  the  holy  gods,  and  I  told  him  the  dream.  O  Belteshaz- 
zar, chief  of  the  scribes,  since  I  know  that  the  spirit  of 
the  holy  gods  is  in  thee,  and  no  secret  is  too  hard  for  thee, 
teir  me  the  visions  of  my  dream  which  I  have  seen,  and 

10  the  interpretation  thereof.     The  visions  of  my  head  were 


806  DANIEL.  [en.  IV. 

these.     I  saw,  and  behold  a   tree  in  the   midst,  whose 

11  height  was  very  great.  The  tree  was  large  and  strong, 
and  its  height  reached  to  heaven,  and  it  might  be  seen 

12  to  the  end  of  the  whole  earth.  The  leaves  thereof  were 
fair,  and  the  fruit  abundant,  and  in  it  was  food  for  all. 
The  beasts  of  the  field  had  shadow  under  it,  and  the  birds 
of  heaven  dwelt  in  the  boughs  thereof,  and  all  flesh  was 

13  fed  of  it.  I  saw,  in  the  visions  of  my  head  upon  my  bed, 
and  behold,  a  watcher,  even  a  holy  one,  came  down  from 

14  heaven ;  he  cried  aloud,  and  spake  thus :  Hew  down  the 
tree,  and  cut  off  its  branches  ;  shake  off  its  leaves,  and 
scatter  its  fruit;   let  the  beasts  go  away  from  under  it, 

15  and  the  birds  from  its  branches.  Yet  leave  the  stump 
of  its  roots  in  the  earth,  in  bands  of  iron  and  brass,  in  the 
tender  grass  of  the  field ;  and  he  shall  be  wet  with  the 
dew  of  heaven,  and  his  portion  shall  be  with  the  beasts 

16  in  the  grass  of  the  field.  His  heart  shall  be  changed,  and 
be  no  more  that  of  a  man,  and  a  beast's  heart  shall  be 

17  given  him,  and  seven  times  shall  pass  over  him.  By  a 
decision  of  the  watchers  is  the  decree,  and  by  a  command 
of  the  holy  ones  is  the  sentence ;  to  the  intent  that  the 
living  may  know  that  the  Most  High  ruleth  in  the  king- 
doms of  men,  and  giveth  them  to  whomsoever  he  will, 

18  and  setteth  up  over  them  the  lowest  of  men.  This  dream 
I,  King  Nebuchadnezzar,  saw,  and  do  thou,  O  Belte- 
shazzar,  declare  the  interpretation  thereof,  forasmuch  as 
all  the  wise  men  of  my  kingdom  are  not  able  to  make 
known  to  me  the  interpretation ;  but  thou  art  able,  for 
the  spirit  of  the  holy  gods  is  in  thee. 

19  Then  Daniel,  who  was  called  Belteshazzar,  was  amazed 
for  one  hour,  and  his  thoughts  troubled  him.  The  king 
spake  and  said,  Belteshazzar,  let  not  the  dream  or  the 
interpretation  thereof  trouble  thee.  Belteshazzar  an- 
swered and  said,  My  Iprd,  the  dream  be  to  them  that  hate 

to  thee,  and  the  signification  of  it  to  thine  enemies !  The 
tree  which  thou  sawest,  which  was  large  and  strong, 
whose  height  reached  to  heaven,  and  which  might  be  seen 

21  by  all  the  earth,  whose  leaves  were  fair,  and  whose  fruit 
abundant,  and  in  which  was  food  for  all,  under  which  all 
the  beasts  of  the  field  dwelt,  and  upon  whose  branches  the 

22  birds  of  heaven  had  their  lodging,  —  it  is  thou,  O  king, 
who  art  become  great  and  strong;  for  thy  greatness  ia 


CH.  IV.]  DANIEL.  307 

immense,  and  reacheth  to  heaven,  and  thy  dominion  to  the 

23  end  of  the  earth.  And  whereas  the  king  saw  a  watcher, 
even  a  holy  one,  coming  down  from  lieaven,  and  saying, 
Hew  tho  tree  down  and  destroy  it,  yet  leave  the  stump  of 
its  rootB  in  the  earth,  in  bands  of  iron  and  brass,  in  the 
tender  grass  of  the  field,  and  he  shall  be  wet  with  the  dew 
^f  heaven,  and  his  portion  shall  be  with  the  beasts  of  the 

24  field,  till  seven  times  pass  over  him  ;  this  is  the  interpre- 
tation, O  king,  and  this  is  the  decree  of  the  Most  High, ' 

25  which  is  come  upon  my  lord,  the  king ;  they  shall  drive 
tkee  from  men,  and  thy  dwelling  shall  be  with  the  beasts 
of  t):e  field,  and  they  shall  let  thee  eat  grass  as  oxen,  and 
be  wet  with  the  dew  of  heaven,  and  seven  times  shall  pass 
over  thee,  till  thou  know  that  the  Most  High  ruleth  in 
the  kingdoms  of  men,  and  giveth  them  to  whomsoever  he 

26  will.  And  whereas  it  was  commanded  to  leave  the  stump 
of  the  roots  of  the  tree,  thy  kingdom  shall  be  sure  to  thee 
after  thou  shalt  have  acknowledged  that  Heaven  ruleth. 

27  Wherefore,  O  king,  let  my  counsel  be  acce})table  to  thee, 
and  break  off  thy  sins  by  righteousness,  and  thy  iniquities 
by  sb&wing  mercy  to  the  poor;  if  it  may  be  a  lengthening 
out  of  thy  tranquillity. 

28,  29  All  this  came  upon  King  Nebuchadnezzar.  At  the 
end  of  twelve  months,  he  was  walking  in  the  palace  of 

SO  the  Lingdom  of  Babylon  ;  and  the  king  spake  and  said. 
Is  not  this  the  great  Babylon  which  I  have  built  for  the 
seat  of  the  kingdom  by  the  might  of  my  power  and  for 

31  the  honor  of  my  majesty  ?  While  the  word  was  in  the 
king's  mouth,  there  fell  a  voice  from  heaven :  "To  thee  it 
is  said,  O  Nebuchadnezzar  !  the  kingdom  is  departed  from 

32  thee.  And  they  shall  drive  thee  from  men,  and  thy  dwell- 
ing shall  be  with  the  beasts  of  the  field ;  they  shall  make 
thee  eat  grass  as  oxen,  and  seven  times  shall  pass  over 
thee,  until  thou  know  that  the  Most  High  ruleth  in  the 
kingdoms  of  men,  and  giveth  them  to  whomsoever  he 

83  will."  The  same  hour  was  the  word  fulfilled  against 
Nebuchadnezzar,  and  he  was  driven  from  men,  and  did 
eat  grass  as  oxen,  and  his  body  was  wet  with  the  dew  of 
heaven,  till  his  hairs  were  grown  like  eagles'  feathers,  and 
his  nails  like  birds'  claws. 

84  But  at  the  end  of  the  days,  I  Nebuchadnezzar  lifted 
up  my  eyes  to  heaven,  and  my  understanding  returned  to 


808  DANIEL.  [CH.  V. 

me,  and  I  blessed  the  Most  High,  and  I  praised  and  hon- 
ored Him  that  liveth  forever,  whose  dominion  is  an  ever- 
lasting  dominion,   and   whose   kingdom    endureth   from 

35  generation  to  generation.  And  all  the  inhabitants  of  the 
earth  are  counted  as  nothing ;  and  he  doeth  according  to 
his  will  in  the  army  of  heaven,  and  among  the  inhabitants 
of  the  earth;  and  none  can  stay  his  hand,  or  say  to  him, 

36  What  doest  thou  ?  At  the  same  time  my  reason  returned 
to  me,  and  also  the  glory  of  my  kingdom,  my  honor,  and 
my  splendor  returned  to  me ;  and  my  counsellors  and  my 
lords  sought  me ;  and  I  was  established  in  my  kingdom, 

37  and  I  received  yet  greater  majesty.  Now  I  Nebuchad- 
nezzar praise  and  extol  and  honor  the  King  of  heaven ; 
all  whose  works  are  truth  and  his  ways  justice  ;  and  those 
that  walk  in  pride  he  is  able  to  abase. 


V. 

Belshazzar's  feast.    Capture  of  Babylon.  —  Ch.  V. 

1  Belshazzar,  the  king,  gave  a  great  feast  to  his  thou- 

2  sand  lords,  and  drank  wine  before  the  thousand.  Bel- 
shazzar,  while  he  tasted  the  wine,  commanded  to  bring 
the  golden  and  silver  vessels  which  his  father  Nebuchad- 
nezzar had  taken  out  of  the  temple  at  Jerusalem ;  that 
the  king  and  his  princes,  his  wives  and  his  concubines, 

3  might  drink  therein.  Then  they  brought  the  golden  ves- 
sels that  were  taken  out  of  the  temple  of  the  house  of  God 
at  Jerusalem  ;  and  the  king  and  his  princes,  his  wives  and 

4  his  concubines,  dranli  in  them.  They  drank  wine,  and 
praised  the  gods  of  gold  and  of  silver,  of  brass,  of  iron,  of 
wood,  and  of  stone. 

5  In  the  same  hour  came  forth  fingers  of  a  man's  hand, 
and  wrote  over  against  the  chandelier  upon  the  plaster 
of  the  wall  of  the  king's  palace ;  and  the  king  saw  the 

6  hand  that  wrote.  Then  the  king's  countenance  was 
changed,  and  his  thoughts  troubled  him,  so  that  the  joints 
of  his  loins  were  loosened,  and  his  knees  smote  one  against 

7  the  other.  The  king  cried  aloud  to  bring  in  the  magi- 
cians, the  Chaldaeans,  and  the  astrologers.     And  the  king 


CH.  v.j  DANIEL.  309 

spake  and  said  to  the  wise  men  of  Babylon,  Whoever  shall 
read  this  writing,  and  show  me  the  interpretation  there- 
of, shall  be  clothed  with  purple,  and  have  a  chain  of  gold 
about  his  neck,  and  shall  rule  as  the  third  in  the  kingdom. 

8  Then  all  the  king's  wise  men  came  in  ;  but  they  could  not 
read  the  writing,  nor  make  known  to  the  king  its  significa- 

9  tion.     Then  was  King  Belshazzar  in  great  consternation, 
and  his  countenance   was  changed,   and  his  lords  were 

10  amazed.  Then  the  queen,  on  account  of  this  affair  of  the 
king  and  his  lords,  came  into  the  banquet-house;  and 
the  queen  spake  and  said,  O  king,  live  forever!  Let 
not  thy  thoughts   terrify  thee,  nor  let  thy  countenance 

11  be  changed.  There  is  a  man  in  thy  kingdom  in  whom 
is  the  spirit  of  the  holy  gods ;  and  in  the  days  of  thy 
father,  light  and  understanding  and  wisdom,  like  the  wis- 
dom of  the  gods,  were  found  in  him ;  and  the  king  Neb- 
uchadnezzar, thy  father,  made  him  chief  of  the  scribes, 
the  magicians,  the  Chalda^ans,  and  the   astrologers,  thy 

12  father,  O  king!  forasmuch  as  an  excellent  spirit  and 
knowledge  and  understanding  to  interpret  dreams,  and 
to  explain  hard  sentences,  and  solve  difficult  questions 
were  found  in  him,  in  Daniel,  whom  the  king  named 
Belteshazzar ;  now  let  Daniel  be  called,  and  he  will  show 
the  interpretation. 

13  Then  was  Daniel  brought  in  before  the  king.  And 
the  king  spake  and  said  to  Daniel,  Art  thou  that° Daniel, 
of  the  captives   of  Judah,  whom  the   king,    my    father, 

14  brought  out  of  Judaea?  I  have  heard  concerning  thee, 
that  the  spirit  of  the  gods  is  in  thee,  and  that  light  and 
understanding  and  excellent  wisdom  are  found  in  thee. 

15  And  now  the  wise  men  and  the  magicians  have  been 
brought  in  before  me,  that  they  might  read  this  writing, 
and  make  known  to  me  its  signification ;  but  they  could 

16  not  show  the  signification  of  the  thing.  But  I  have 
heard  of  thee  that  thou  canst  give  interpretations,  and 
solve  difficult  questions.  Now  if  thou  canst  read  the 
writing  and  make  known  to  me  its  signification,  thou 
shalt  be  clothed  with  purple,  and  have  a  chain  of  gold 
about  thy  neck,  and  shalt  rule  as  the  third  in  the  king- 
dom. 

17  Then  answered  Daniel  and  said  before  the  king.  Let 
thy  gifts  be  to  thyself,  and  give  thy  rewards  to  another : 


310  DANIEL.  [CH.  V. 

yet  I  will  read  the  writing  to  the  khig,  and  make  known 

18  to  him  the  signification.  O  king,  the  Most  High  God 
gave  to   Nebuchadnezzar,  thy   father,    a   kingdom,   and 

19  majesty,  and  glory,  and  honor.  And  by  reason  of  the 
majesty  which  he  gave  him,  all  people,  nations,  and  lan- 
guages trembled  and  feared  before  him  ;  whom  he  would 
he  slew,  and  whom  he  would  he  kept  alive ;  whom  he 
would  he   set   up,  and   whom   he   would    he    put  down. 

20  But  when  his  heart  was  lifted  up,  and  his  spirit  hardened 
in  pride,  he  was  thrust  down  from  his  kingly  throne,  and 

21  his  glory  was  taken  from  him.  And  he  was  driven  from 
the  sons  of  men ;  and  his  heart  became  like  the  beasts,  and 
his  dwelling  was  with  wild  asses ;  he  was  fed  with  grass 
like  oxen,  and  his  body  was  wet  with  the  dew  of  heaven  ; 
till  he  knew  that  the  Most  High  God  ruled  in  the  king- 
doms of  men,  and  set  up  over  them  whomsoever  he  would. 

22  And   thou,    his    son,    O    Belshazzar,    hast   not   humbled 

23  thy  heart,  though  thou  knewest  all  this ;  but  hast  lifted 
thyself  up  against  the  Lord  of  heaven  ;  and  the  vessels 
of  his  house  have  been  brought  before  thee,  and  thou,  and 
thy  lords,  thy  wives,  and  thy  concubines  have  drunk  wine 
in  them  ;  and  thou  hast  praised  the  gods  of  silver  and 
gold,  of  brass,  iron,  wood,  and  stone,  which  see  not,  nor 
hear,  nor  know;  and  the  God  in  whose  hand  is  thy 
breath,  and  whose  are  all  thy  ways,  tliou  hast  not  hon- 

24  ored.    Then  was  sent  from  him  the  hand,  and  this  writing 

25  was  written.  And  this  is  the  writing  which  was  written  : 
Numbered,    Numbered,  Weighed,   and    To   be    Divided. 

26  And  this  is  the  interpretation  of  it.  Numbered:  God 
hath  numbered  thy  kingdom,   and  made  an   end  of  it. 

27  Weighed  :    Thou  art  weighed  in  the  balances,  and  found 

28  wanting.     Divided:  Thy  kingdom  is  divided,  and  given 

29  to  the  Medes  and  Persians.  Then  Belshazzar  command- 
ed, and  they  clothed  Daniel  with  purple,  and  put  a  chain 
of  gold  about  his  neck,  and  made  a  proclamation  concern- 
ing him  that  he  should  be  third  ruler  in  the  kingdom. 

30  In  the  same  night  was  Belshazzar,  the  king  of  the  Chal- 

31  dteans,  slain  ;  and  Darius  the  Mede  took  the  kingdom, 
being  about  sixty-two  years  old. 


OH.  Ti.l  DANIEL.  311 


VI. 

Daniel  comes  safe  from  the  lions'  den,  into  which  he  had  been  cast  for  alle- 
giance to  his  God,  —  Ch.  VI. 

1  It  pleased  Darius  to  set  over  the  kingdom  a  hundred 
and  twenty  satraps,  which  should  be  over  the  whole  king- 

2  dom,  and  over  them  three  presidents,  of  whom  Daniel  was 
one,  that  the  satraps  might  give  accounts  to  them,  and  the 

3  king  might  have  no  damage.  Then  this  Daniel  was  emi- 
nent above  the  presidents  and  satraps,  because  an  excel- 
lent spirit  was  in  him ;  and  the  king  thought  to  set  him 

4  over  the  wdiole  realm.  Then  the  presidents  and  satraps 
sought  to  jfind  occasion  against  Daniel  in  relation  to  the 
kingdom ;  but  they  could  find  no  occasion  nor  fault ;  be- 
cause he  was  faithful,  and  no  error  nor  fault  was  found 

5  in  him.  Then  said  these  men.  We  shall  not  find  any 
occasion  ajrainst  this  Daniel,  unless  we  find  it  afjainst  hira 

6  concerning  the  law  of  his  God.  Then  these  presidents 
and  satraps  rushed  together  to  the  king,  and  spake  thus 

7  to  him :  King  Darius,  live  forever  !  All  the  presidents 
of  the  kingdom,  the  governors  and  the  satraps,  the  coun- 
sellors and  the  prefects,  have  consulted  together  to  estab- 
lish a  royal  statute,  and  to  make  a  firm  decree,  that 
whoever  shall  ask  a  petition  of  any  god  or  man  for  thirty 
days,  save  of  thee,  O  king,  he  shall  be  cast  into  the  den 

8  of  lions.  Now,  O  king,  establish  the  decree  and  sign  the 
writing  that  it  be  not  changed,  according  to  the  law  of 

9  the  Medes  and  Persians  which  altereth  not.  Wherefore 
King  Darius  signed  the  writing  and  the  decree. 

10  Now  when  Daniel  knew  that  the  writing  was  signed, 
he  went  into  his  house,  his  windows  being  open  in  his 
chamber  toward  Jerusalem,  and  three  times  a  day  he 
kneeled  upon  his  knees,   and  prayed    and  gave   thanks 

11  before  his  God,  as  he  had  done  before.  Then  these  men 
rushed  together,  and  found  Daniel  praying  and  making 

12  supplication  before  his  God.  Then  they  came  near  and 
spake  before  the  king  concerning  the  royal  decree  :  Hast 
thou  not  signed  a  decree,  that  every  man  who  shall  ask  a 
petition  of  any  god  or  man  within  thirty  days,  save  of 
thee,  0  king,  shall  be  cast  into  the  den  of  lions?     The 


312  DANIEL.  [CH.  VI. 

king  answered  and  said,  The  thing  is  true,  according  to 
the  law  of  the  Medes  and  Persians,  which  altereth  not. 

13  Then  answered  they  and  said  before  the  king,  Daniel, 
who  is  of  the  sons  of  the  captives  of  Judah,  regardeth  not 
thee,  0  king,  nor  the  decree  which  thou  hast  signed,  but 

14  maketh  his  petition  three  times  a  day.  Then  the  king, 
when  he  heard  these  words,  was  much  troubled,  and  set 
his  heart  to  deliver  him ;  and  he  labored  till  the  going 

15  down  of  the  sun  to  deliver  him.  Then  these  men  assem- 
bled before  the  king,  and  said  to  the  king,  Know,  O  king, 
that  the  law  of  the  Medes  and  Persians  is,  that  no  decree 
or  statute  which  the  king  establisheth  may  be  changed. 

16  Then  the  king  commanded  that  they  should  bring  Daniel 
and  cast  him  into  the  den  of  lions.  And  the  king  spake 
and   said  to  Daniel,  May  thy  God,  whom  thou   servest 

17  continually,  deliver  thee  !  And  a  stone  was  brought  and 
laid  upon  the  mouth  of  the  den  ;  and  the  king  sealed  it 
with  his  own  signet,  and  with  the  signet  of  his  lords,  that 
nothing  concerning  Daniel  might  be  changed. 

18  Then  the  king  went  to  his  palace,  and  passed  the  night 
fastinij,  and  suffered  not  the  concubines  to  be  brous^ht  to 

19  him ;  and  his  sleep  went  from  him.  Then  the  king  arose 
very  early  in  the  morning,  and  went  in  haste  to  the  den 

'>0  of  lions.  And  when  he  came  to  the  den,  he  cried  with  a 
troubled  voice  to  Daniel ;  and  the  king  spake  and  said  to 
Daniel,  0  Daniel,  servant  of  the  living  God,  has  thy  God, 
whom  thou  servest  continually,  been  able  to  deliver  thee 

21  from  the  lions  ?     Then  said  Daniel  to  the  king,  O  king, 

22  live  forever!  My  God  hath  sent  his  angel,  and  hath 
shut  the  lions'  mouths,  so  that  they  have  not  hurt  me ; 
forasmuch  as  before  him  innocency  was  found  in  me ;  and 

23  also  before  thee,  O  king,  have  1  done  no  wrong.  Then 
was  the  king  exceedingly  glad,  and  commanded  that  they 
should  take  Daniel  up  out  of  the  den.  So  Daniel  was 
taken  up  out  of  the  den,  and  no  manner  of  hurt  was  found 

24  upon  him,  because  he  trusted  in  his  God.  And  the  king 
commanded,  and  they  brought  those  men  who  had  ac- 
cused Daniel,  and  cast  them  into  the  den  of  lions,  them, 
their  children,  and  their  wives  ;  and  the  lions  had  the 
mastery  of  them,  and  broke  all  their  bones  before  they 
came  to  the  bottom  of  the  den. 

25  Then  King  Darius  wrote  to  all  people,  nations,  and  Ian- 


CH.  vii.J  DANIEL.  313 

guages,  tliat  dwell  in  all  tlie  earth :  Peace  be  miilti  plied  to 

26  you  !  I  make  a  decree,  that  in  every  government  of  my 
kingdom  men  tremble  and  fear  before  tlie  God  of  Daniel ; 
for  he  is  the  living  God  that  endureth  forever,  and  whose 
kingdom  shall  not  be  destroyed,  and  whose  dominion  shall 

27  endure  to  the  end.  It  is  he  that  delivereth  and  rescueth, 
and  worketh  signs  and  wonders  in  heaven  and  in  earth, 
•who  hath  delivered  Daniel  from  the  power  of  the  lions. 

28  This  Daniel  prospered  in  the  reign  of  Darius,  and  in 
the  reign  of  Cyrus  the  Persian. 


vn. 

Daniel's  vision  of  four  beasts,  the  symbols  of  four  kingdoms.  —  Cii.  VII. 

1  In  the  first  year  of  Belshazzar,  king  of  Babylon,  Dan- 
iel saw  a  dream,  and  visions  of  his  head  upon  his  bed. 
Then  he  wrote  the  dream,  and  related  the  sum   of  the 

X  matters.     Daniel  spake  and  said  :  — 

I  saw  in  my  vision  by  night,  and  behold,  the  four  winds 

3  of  heaven  burst  forth  upon  the  great  sea.  And  four  great 
beasts  came  up  out  of  the  sea,  diverse  one  from  another. 

4  The  first  was  like  a  lion,  and  had  the  wings  of  an  eagle  ; 
I  beheld  till  its  wings  were  plucked  from  it,  and  it  was 
lifted  up  from  the  earth,  and  made  to  stand  upon  its  feet 
like  a  man,  and  a  man's  heart  was  given  to  it. 

fi  And  behold,  another  beast,  the  second,  like  to  a  bear ; 
and  it  stood  up  on  one  side,  and  it  had  three  ribs  in  its 
mouth  between  its  teeth ;  and  they  spake  thus  to  it : 
Arise,  devour  much  flesh ! 

6  After  this  I  beheld,  and  lo,  another,  like  a  leopard, 
which  had.  upon  its  back  four  wings  of  a  bird  ;  the  beast 
also  had  four  heads,  and  dominion  was  given  to  it. 

7  After  this  I  saw  in  the  night  visions,  and  behold, 
a  fourth  beast,  dreadful,  and  terrible,  and  exceedingly 
strong ;  and  it  had  great  iron  teeth ;  it  devoured,  and 
broko  in  pieces,  and  stamped  the  residue  with  its  feet,  and 
it  differed  from  all  the  beasts  that  were  before  it ;  and  it 

8  had  ten  horns.  I  gave  heed  to  the  horns,  and  behold, 
there  came  up   among   them   another  little   horn,  before 

VOL    II.  14 


?)14  DANIEL.  [CH.  vir. 

which  three  of  the  first  horns  were  plucked  up  by  the 
roots  ;  and  behold,  in  this  horn  were  eyes  like  the  eyes  of 
9  a  man,  and  a  mouth  speaking  great  tilings.  I  beheld, 
till  thrones  were  placed,  and  an  aged  one  seated  himself, 
his  garment  white  like  snow,  and  the  hair  of  his  head  like 
pure  wool ;  his  throne  like  a  fiery  flame,  and  its  wheels 

10  like  burning  fire.  A  fiery  stream  issued  and  came  fortli 
from  before  him ;  thousands  of  thousands  ministered  to 
him,  and  ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand  stood  before 

]  1  him ;  the  tribunal  sat,  and  the  books  were  opened.  I 
beheld ;  and  because  of  the  great  words  which  the  horn 
spake,  I  beheld  till  the  beast  was  slain,  and  his  body  de- 

12  stroyed  and  given  to  the  burning  flame.  As  to  the  rest 
of  the  beasts,  they  had  their  dominion  taken  away,  for  tlie 
duration  of  their  lives  had  been  appointed  for  a  season 
and  a  time. 

13  I  saw  in  the  niglit  visions,  and  behold,  with  the  clouds 
of  heaven  came  one  like  a  son  of  man,  and  came  to  the 

14  aged  one,  and  they  brought  him  near  before  him.  And 
there  was  given  him  dominion,  and  glory,  and  a  kingdom, 
that  all  people,  nations,  and  languages  should  serve  him ; 
liis  dominion  is  an  everlasting  dominion,  which  shall  not 
pass  away,  and  his  kingdom  shall  not  be  destroyed. 

15  I  Daniel  was  grieved  in  my  spirit  within  me,  and  the 

16  visions  of  my  head  troubled  me.  I  came  near  to  one  of 
them  that  stood  by,  and  asked  him  the  truth  concerning 
all  this.     So  he  told  me,  and  made  known  to  me  the  in- 

17  terpretation  of  the  things.  These  great  beasts,  which 
are  four,  are  four  kings,  which  shall  arise  out  of  the  earth. 

18  Then  shall  the  saints  of  the  Most  High  receive  the  king- 
dom, and  possess  the  kingdom  forever,  even  for  ever  and 

19  ever.  Tlien  I  desired  to  know  the  truth  concerning  the 
fourth  beast,  which  differed  from  all  the  others,  exceed- 
ingly dreadful,  whose  teeth  were  of  iron  and  his  nails  of 
brass,  which  devoured,  brake  in  pieces,  and  stamped  the 

20  residue  with  his  feet ;  and  concerning  the  ten  horns 
which  were  in  his  head,  and  the  other  which  came  up, 
and  before  which  three  fell,  —  even  that  horn  which  had 
eyes,   and   a   mouth    that  spake  very  great  things,   and 

21  whose  appearance  was  larger  than  that  of  his  fellows.  I 
beheld,  and  the  same  horn  made  war  with  the  saints  and 

22  prevailed   against    them,  until   the   aged  one  came,  and 


CH.  VIII.]  DANIEL.  315 

judgment  was  rendered  to  the  saints  of  tlie  Most  High, 
and  the  time  came  that  the  saints  should  possess  the  king- 

23  dom.  He  spake  thus  :  The  fourth  beast  is  a  fourth  king- 
dom upon  the  earth,  which  shall  differ  from  all  kingdoms, 
and  shall  devour  the  whole  earth,  and  shall  tread  it  down, 

24  and  break  it  in  pieces.  And  the  ten  horns  are  ten  kings, 
which  shall  arise  out  of  this  kingdom  ;  and  another  shall 
arise  after  them ;  and  he  shall  differ  from  the  former,  and 

25  shall  subdue  three  kings.  And  he  will  speak  great  words 
against  the  Most  High,  and  will  harass  the  saints  of  the 
Most  High,  and  will  resolve  to  change  times  and  laws ; 
and  they  shall  be  given  into  his  hand  a  time,  and  times, 

26  and  half  a  time.  But  the  tribunal^  shall  sit,  and  his  do- 
minion shall  be  taken  away,  and  consumed  and  destroyed 

27  forever.  And  the  sovereignty  and  dominion  and  power 
over  all  kingdoms  under  the  whole  heaven  shall  be  given 
to  the  people  of  the  saints  of  the  Most  High  ;  his  king- 
dom is  an  everlasting  kingdom,  and  all  dominions  shall 

28  serve  and  obey  him.  Here  ended  his  words.  As  for  me 
Daniel,  my  thoughts  terrified  me  much,  and  my  counte 
nance  changed  ;  but  I  kept  the  matter  in  my  heart. 


YIIT. 

Vision  of  the  ram  and  the  he-goat,  and  its  explanation.  —  CH.  VIII. 

1  In  the  third  year  of  the  reign  of  King  Belshazzar,  » 
vision  appeared  to  me,  to  me,  Daniel,  after  that  which 

2  appeared  to  me  at  the  first.  And  I  saw  in  a  vision,  and 
when  I  saw,  I  was  in  Shushan,  in  the  palace,  which  is  in 
the  province  of  Elam ;  and  I  saw  in  a  vision,  and  was  by 

3  the  river  Ulai.  And  I  lifted  up  my  eyes  and  saw,  and 
behold,  there  stood  before  the  river  a  ram,  which  had  two 
horns ;  and  the  two  horns  were  high,  and  one  was  higher 

4  than  the  other ;  and  the  higher  came  up  last.  I  saw  the 
ram  pushing  westward  and  northward  and  southward,  and 
no  beast  could  stand  before  him,  and  none  could  deliver  out 
of  his  hand ;  but  he  did  according  to  his  will  and  became 

5  great.  And  I  gave  heed,  and  behold,  a  he-goat  came 
from  the  west,  over  the  face  of  the  whole  earth,  without 


316  DANIEL.  [en.  VIII. 

touching   the   ground ;    and  the  goat  had  a  conspicuous 

6  horn  between  his  eyes.  And  he  came  to  the  ram  Avhich 
had  two  horns,  which  I  had  seen  standing  before  the  river, 

7  and  ran  against  him  in  the  fury  of  his  power.  And  I 
saw  him  come  close  to  the  ram,  and  he  was  enraged 
against  him,  and  smote  the  ram,  and  broke  in  pieces  his 
two  horns ;  and  there  was  no  power  in  the  ram  to  stand 
before  him;  and  he  cast  him  down  to  tlie  ground,  and 
stamped  upon  him ;  and  none  could  deliver  the  ram  out 

8  of  his  hand.  And  the  he-goat  becj^me  exceedingly  great ; 
but  when  he  became  stronir  the  2;reat  horn  was  broken, 
and  instead  of  it  grew  up  four  conspicuous  ones  toward 

9  the  four  winds  of  l^^^aven.  And  out  of  one  of  them  came 
forth  a  little  horn,  which  became  exceedingly  great 
toward    the  south,  and  toward  the  east,  and  toward  the 

10  beautiful  land.  And  it  exalted  itself  even  to  the  host  of 
heaven,  and  some  of  the  host  and  of  the  stars  it  cast  down 

11  to  the  ground,  and  stamped  upon  them.  Yea,  he  magni- 
fied himself  even  to  the  Prince  of  tlie  host,  and  the  daily 
sacrifice  did  he  take  away  from  him,  and  the  place  of  his 

12  sanctuary  was  cast  down.  And  a  host  was  placed  over 
the  daily  sacrifice  with  impiety,  and  it  cast  down  truth  to 
the  ground,  and  it  accomplished  its  purpose  and  prospered. 

13  And  I  heard  a  holy  one  speak  ;  and  another  holy  one 
said  to  the  one  that  had  spoken.  To  how  long  a  time  ex- 
tendeth  the  vision  concerning  the  daily  sacrifice,  and  the 
impiety  of  the  destroyer,  to  give  both  the  sanctuary  and 

14  the  host  to  be  trodden  under  foot?  And  he  said  to  me, 
To  two  thousand  and  three  liundred  evenings  and  morn- 
ings ;  then  shall  the  sanctuary  be  cleansed. 

15  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  I  Daniel  saw  the  vis- 
ion, I  sought  for  the  meaning;  and  behold,  there  stood 

16  one  before  me  having  the  appearance  of  a  man.  And  I 
heard  a  man's  voice  between  the  banks  of  Ulai,  whicli 
called  and  said,  Gabriel,  make  this  man  to  understand  the 

17  vision.  And  he  came  near  where  I  stood ;  and  when  he 
came,  I  was  afraid,  and  fell  upon  my  face,  and  he  said  to 
rae,  Understand,  O  son  of  man  !  for  this  vision  relateth  to 

18  the  time  of  the  end.  But  when  he  spake  to  me,  I  sank 
senseless  upon  my  face  to  the  ground  ;  but  he   touclied 

19  me,  and  lifted  me  up  where  I  had  stood.  And  he  said, 
Behold,  I  make  known  to  thee  what  shall  be  in  the  latter 


CH.  IX.]  DANIEL.  317 

lime  of  the  indignation  ;  for  [the  vision  relateth]  to  the 

20  time  of  the   end.     The  ram  wliich  thou   sawest,  having 

21  two  horns,  denoteth  the  kings  of  Media  and  Persia.  And 
the  rough  goat  is  the  king  of  Greece  ;  and  the  great  horn 

22  between  his  eyes  is  the  first  king.  And  as  that  was 
broken,  and  four  arose  in  its  phic-e,  four  kingdoms  shall 

23  arise  out  of  the  nation,  but  not  with  his  power.  And 
toward  the  end  of  their  reign,  when  the  transgressors 
have  filled  up  the  measure  of  their  iniquities,  a  king  shall 
arise   of  a  fierce   countenance,  and  cunning  in   artifices. 

24  And  his  power  shall  become  mighty,  but  not  by  his  own 
strength  ;  and  wonderfully  will  he  destroy,  and  prosper, 
and  accomplish  his  purposes,  and  he  will  destroy  many, 

25  even  the  people  of  the  holy  ones.  And  through  his  cun- 
ning will  he  cause  fraud  to  prosper  in  liis  hand,  and  he 
will  magnify  himself  in  his  heart,  and  he  will  destroy 
many  in  the  midst  of  security,  and  against  the  Prince  of 
princes  will  he  stand  up;  but  he  shall  be  broken  without 

26  hand.  And  the  vision  of  the  evening  and  the  morning, 
which  was  told  thee,  is  true  ;  but  do  thou  seal  up  the  vis- 

27  ion,  for  it  relates  to  many  days.  And  I  Daniel  fainted, 
and  was  sick  some  days ;  then  I  rose  up  and  did  the 
king's  business  ;  and  I  was  astonished  at  the  vision,  but 
no  one  explained  it. 


IX. 

Daniel's  prayer  for  the  restoration  of  Jerusalem.    Revelation  of  the  seventy 
weeks.  —  Cii.  IX. 

1  In  the  first  year  of  Darius,  the  son  of  Ahasuerus,  of 
the  race  of  the  Medes,  who  became  king  over  the  realm 

2  of  the  Chaldagans,  in  the  first  year  of  his  reign,  I  Daniel 
attentively  considered  in  the  Books  the  number  of  the 
years,  concerning  which  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to 
Jeremiah  the  prophet,  that  Jerusalem  should  remain  in 
ruins  till  they  were  accomplished,  namely,  seventy  years. 

3  And  I  set  my  face  toward  God,  the  Lord,  and  made 
prayers  and  supplications,  with  fasting  and  sackcloth  and 

4  ashes.  And  I  prayed  to  Jehovah,  my  God,  and  made 
my  confession,  and  said,  0  Lord,  the  great  and  terrible 


318  DANIEL.  [CH.  IX. 

God,  who  keepeth  the  covenant  and  mercy  to  them  that 

5  love  him  and  keep  his  commandments!  We  have  sinned, 
and  have  committed  iniquity,  and  have  done  wickedly, 
and  have  rebelled,  even  by  departing  from  thy  precepts 

6  and  thy  statutes.  Neither  have  we  hearkened  to  thy 
servants,  the  prophets,  who  spake  in  thy  name  to  our 
kings,  our  princes,  and  our  fathers,  and  to  all  the  people 

7  of  the  land.  To  thee,  0  Lord,  belongeth  righteousness, 
but  to  us  confusion  of  face,  as  at  this  day  ;  to  the  men  of 
Judah,  and  to  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  and  to  all 
Israel,  to  those  that  are  near  and  to  those  that  are  far  off 
through  all  the  countries  whither  thou  hast  driven  them 
because    of  their    trespass    which    they    have    trespassed 

8  against  thee.  O  Lord,  to  us  belongeth  confusion  of  face, 
to  our  kings,  to  our  princes,  and  to  our  fathers,  because 

9  we  have  sinned  against  thee.  Yet  with  the  Lord  our 
God  is   mercy  and  forgiveness.     For  we   have   rebelled 

10  against  him,  and  have  not  obeyed  the  voice  of  Jehovah 
our  God,  to  walk  in  his  laws,  which  he  set  before  us  by 

11  his  servants,  the  prophets.  Yea,  all  Israel  have  trans- 
gressed thy  law,  and  turned  away,  so  as  not  to  obey  thy 
voice  ;  therefore  the  curse  is  poured  out  upon  us,  and  the 
oath  that  is  written  in  the  law  of  Moses,  the  servant  of 

12  God,  because  we  have  sinned  against  him.  And  he  hath 
fulfilled  his  word  which  he  spake  against  us,  and  against 
our  judges  who  judged  us,  by  bringing  great  calamity 
upon  us ;   for  under  the  whole  heaven  hath  it  not  been 

13  done  as  hath  been  done  to  Jerusalem.  As  it  is  written 
in  the  law  of  Moses,  all  this  evil  came  upon  us.  For  we 
made  not  our  prayer  to  Jehovah  our  God,  that  we  might 
turn    from    our    ini((uities,  and    give   heed   to   thy   truth. 

14  Therefore  hath  Jehovah  our  God  kept  his  mind  upon 
the  evil,  and  brought  it  upon  us ;  for  Jehovah  our  God 
is  righteous  in   all  his   works  which  he  doeth ;  for  we 

15  obeyed  not  his  voice.  And  now,  0  Lord  our  God,  that 
broughtest  thy  people  forth  from  the  land  of  Egypt  with 
a  mighty  hand,  and  madest  thee  a  name  such  as  it 
is  at  this  day,  we  have  sinned,  we  have  done  wickedly. 

16  O  Lord,  according  to  all  thy  goodness,  let  thine  anger 
and  thy  fury,  I  beseech  thee,  be  turned  away  from  thy 
city  Jerusalem,  thy  holy  mountain  !  for  because  of  our 
iniquities,  and  the  iniquities  of  our  fathers,  Jerusalem  and 


Cii.  ix.j  DANIEL.  319 

thy  people  are  become  a  reproach  to  all  that  are  about  us. 

17  Now,  therefore,  O  our  God,  hear  the  prayer  of  thy  ser- 
vant, and  his  supplications,  and  cause  thy  face  to  shine 
upon  thy  sanctuary  that  is  desolate,  for  the  Lord's  sake  ! 

18  O  my  God,  incline  thine  ear,  and  hear !  open  thine  eyes, 
and  bcliold  our  desolations,  and  the  city  which  is  called 
by  thy  name  !  for  we  do  not  present  our  supplications 
before  thee  on  account  of  our  righteousness,  but  on  ac- 

19  count  of  thy  great  mercy.  O  Lord,  hear  !  O  Lord,  for- 
give !  O  Lord,  hearken  and  do  !  Defer  not,  for  thine 
own  sake,  O  my  God !  For  thy  city  and  thy  people  are 
called  by  thy  name. 

20  And  while  I  was  speaking,  and  praying,  and  confessing 
my  sin,  and  the  sin  of  my  people  Israel,  and  presenting 
my  supplication  before  Jehovah   my  God,  for  the   holy 

21  mountain  of  my  God,  yea,  while  I  was  speaking  in 
prayer,  the  man  Gabriel,  whom  I  had  seen  in  the  former 
vision,  came,  weary  with  running,  and  reached  me  about 

22  the  time  of  the  evening  oblation.  And  he  instructed  me, 
and  talked  wilh  me,  and  said :    Daniel,  I  am  now  come 

23  forth  to  give  thee  understanding.  At  the  beginning  of 
thy  supplication  a  word  went  forth,  and  I  am  come  to 
show   it  thee ;  for  thou   art   greatly   beloved ;    therefore 

24  give  heed  to  tlie  word,  and  consider  the  vision.  Seventy 
weeks  are  appointed  for  thy  people,  and  for  thy  holy  c.ty, 
to  complete  the  iniquity,  and  to  fill  up  the  measure  of  the 
sins,  and  to  expiate  the  guilt,  and  to  bring  in  everlast- 
ing righteousness,  and  to  seal  vision  and  prophet,  and  to 

2')  anoint  a  holy  of  holies.  Know,  therefore,  and  under- 
stand !  From  the  going  forth  of  the  word  that  Jerusalem 
should  be  restored  and  built  till  an  anointed  one,  a  prince, 
are  seven  weeks  ;  and  during  sixty-two  weeks  it  shall  be 
restored  and  built  with  streets  and  moats,  yet  in  troublou.-* 

26  times.  And  after  the  sixty-two  weeks  shall  an  anointed 
one  be  cut  off,  and  there  shall  not  be  to  him  [a  successor]  ; 
and  the  city  and  the  sanctuary  shall  be  destroyed  by  the 
people  of  a  prince  that  shall  come,  whose  end  will  be  as 
in  a  flood ;  and  to  the  end  shall  be  war,  decreed  desoia- 

27  tions.  And  he  will  establish  a  covenant  with  many  for 
one  week,  and  during  half  a  week  he  will  cause  sacrifice 
and  oblation  to  cease,  and  upon  the  wing  of  abominations 
shall  come  the  destroyer,  until  decreed  destruction  be 
poured  out  on  the  destroyer. 


3S0  DANIEL.  fcH.  X. 


X. 

Daniel's  last  vision,  concerning  several  nations  and  kings  with  whose  for- 
tunes that  of  the  Jewish  nation  was  connected,  and  other  events.  —  Ch. 
X.-XII. 

1  In  the  third  year  of  Cyrus,  king  of  Persia,  was  a  reve- 
lation made  to  Daniel,  who  was  also  called  Belteshazzar ; 
and  the  revelation  is  true,  and  relateth  to  long  warfare. 
And  he  gave  heed  to  the  revelation,  and  had  understand- 
ing of  the  vision. 

2  In    those    days,    I    Daniel    was   mourning    three    full 

3  weeks.  I  ate  no  pleasant  bread,  neitlier  came  flesh  nor 
wine  into  my  mouth,  till  three  whole  weeks  were  ended. 

4  And    in   the  four  and   twentieth   day  of  the  first  month, 

5  as  I  was  by  the  side  of  the  great  river  Hiddekel,  I  lifted 
up  my  eyes  and  looked,  and  behold,  a  certain  man, 
clothed  in  linen  garments,  and  his  loins  girded  with  gold 

6  of  Uphaz.  His  body  was  like  chrysolite,  and  his  face  had 
the  appearance  of  lightning,  and  his  eyes  were  as  torches 
of  fire,  and  his  arms  and  his  feet  like  the  appearance  of 
polished    brass,  and  the  sound  of  his  words  was  as  the 

7  shout  of  a  multitude.  And  I  Daniel  alone  saw  the  vision 
and  the  men  who  were  with  me  saw  not  the  vision  ;  but  a 
gi'eat  terror  fell  upon  them,  and  they  fled  to  hide  them- 

8  selves.  Therefore  I  was  left  alone,  and  saw  this  great 
vision  ;  and  there  remained  no  strengtli  in  me,  and  my 
color  was  changed  upon  me  into  a  deadly  paleness,  and  I 

9  retained  no  strength.  And  I  heard  the  sound  of  his 
words  ;  and  as  I  heard  the  sound  of  his  words,  I  fell  sense- 

10  less  upon  my  fiice,  and  my  face  toward  the  ground.  And 
behold,  a  hand  touched  me,  and  lifted  me  upon  my  knees 

11  and  the  palms  of  my  hands.  And  he  said  to  me,  Dan- 
iel, much-beloved  man,  give  heed  to  the  words  which  I 
speak  to  thee,  and  stand  upright !  for  to  thee  am  I  now 
sent.     And  when  he  said  this  to  me,  I  stood  up  trembling. 

12  Then  said  lie  to  me,  Fear  not,  Daniel !  for  from  the 
first  day  that  thou  didst  set  thy  mind  to  understand,  and 
to  chasten  thyself  before  thy  God,  tliy  words  were  heard, 

13  and  I  am  come  on  account  of  thy  words.  But  the  prince 
of  the  kingdom  of  Persia  stood  up  against  me  one  and 


en.  xi.J  DANIEL.  321 

twenty  days ;  but  lo,  Michael,  one  of  the  chief  princes, 
came  to  help  me ;  and  I  was  left  there  victorious  with  the 

14  kings  of  Persia.  Now  I  am  come  to  teach  thee  what  shall 
befall  thy  people  in  the  latter  days  ;  for  the  vision  yet 

15  relates  to  distant  days.  And  when  he  had  spoken  these 
words  to  me,  I  set  my  face  toward  the  ground,  and  was 

16  dumb.  And  behold,  one  having  the  appearance  of  the 
sons  of  men  touched  my  lips ;  then  I  opened  my  mouth 
and  spake,  and^  said  to  him  that  stood  before  me,  O  my 
lord,  by  the  vision  my  pain  came  upon  me,  and  I  have  no 

17  strength  left.  And  how  can  the  servant  of  this  my  lord 
talk  with  this  my  lord?     And  now  there  reraaineth  no 

.  18  strength  in  me,  neither  is  breath  left  in  me.  Then  one 
having  the  appearance  of  a  man  again  touched  me  and 

19  strengthened  me,  and  said,  Fear  not,  much-beloved  man ! 
peace  be  to  thee  !  be  strong,  yea,  be  strong !  And  while 
he  was  speaking  with  me,  I  was  strengthened,  and  said, 
Let   my    lord    speak;    for   thou    hast   strengthened    me. 

20  Then  he  said,  Knowest  thou  wherefore  I  have  come  to 
thee  ?  And  now  will  I  return  to  fight  with  the  prince  of 
Persia,  and  I  will    go  forth,  and    behold,  the  prince  of 

21  Greece  will  come.  But  I  will  show  thee  what  is  written 
in  the  book  of  truth.     No  one  putteth  forth  his  strength 

1  with  me  against  them  but  Michael,  your  prince.     And  I 
also,  in  the  first  year  of  Darius  the  Mede,  stood  up  to  con- 

2  firm  and  strengthen  him.  And  now  I  will  tell  thee  what 
is  true. 

Behold,  there  shall  arise  yet  three  kings  in  Persia,  and 
the  fourth  shall  be  far  richer  than  they  all ;  and,  relyino- 
upon  his  riches,  he  shall  stir  up  all  against  the  realm  of 

3  Greece.     But  a  mighty  king  shall  arise,  and  rule  with 

4  great  dominion,  and  do  according  to  his  will.  But  when 
he  shall  have  arisen,  his  kingdom  shall  be  broken  in 
pieces,  and  shall  be  divided  toward  the  four  winds  of 
heaven ;  and  not  to  his  posterity,  nor  with  the  dominion 
with  \yhich  he  ruled ;  for  his  kingdom  shall  be  plucked  up, 

5  and  divided  amongst  others  besides  those.  And  the  kino- 
of  the  South  shall  become  strong ;  but  one  of  his  princes 
shall  become  stronger  than  he,  and  have  dominion;  his 

6  dominion  shall  be  a  great  dominion.  And  after  some 
years  they  shall  ally  themselves  with  each  other;  and  the 
daughter  of  the  king  of  the  South  shu'l  come  to  the  king 


322  DANIEL.  [CH.  XI. 

of  the  North,  to  make  peace ;  but  she  shall  not  retain  the 
power  of  giving  aid;  neither  shall  he  stand,  nor  his  aid; 
but  she  shall  be  given  up,  and  they  that  caused  her  to  go, 
and  he  that  begat  her,  and  he  that  received  her  in  thosi^ 
times. 

7  But  from  a  shoot  of  her  roots  shall  one  arise  in  his 
place,  who  shall  come  to  an  army,  and  shall  come  against 
the  fortresses  of  the  king  of  the  North,  and  shall  deal  with 
them  according  to  his  pleasure,  and  prevail  against  them. 

8  And  their  gods,  with  their  molten  images,  and  their 
precious  vessels  of  silver  and  of  gold,  shall  he  carry  into 
captivity  into  Egypt ;  then  shall  he  stand  away  for  many 

9  years  from  the  king  of  the  North ;  and  he  shall  come 
against  the  kingdom  of  the  king  of  the  South,  but  he  shall 
return  into  his  own  land. 

10  But  his  sons  shall  be  stirred  up,  and  shall  assemble  a 
multitude  of  large  forces ;  and  one  of  them  shall  move 
onward,  and  overflow,  and  pass  through,  and  sliall  again 
stir  himself  up  to  carry  on  the  war  even  to  his  stronghold. 

11  Then  shall  the  king  of  the  South  be  enraged,  and  shall 
come  forth  and  fight  with  him,  even  with  the  king  of  the 
North ;  and  shall  lead  forth  a  great  multitude,  and  the 

12  multitude  shall  be  given  into  his  hand.  And  the  multi- 
tude shall  be  elated,  and  his  heart  shall  be  lifted  up,  and 
he  shall  cast  down  tens  of  thousands ;  but  he  shall  not  be 

13  strong.  For  the  king  of  the  North  shall  return  and  raise 
up  against  him  a  multitude  greater  than  the  former,  and 
shall  steadily  come  after  certain  years  with  a  great  army 

14  and  with  great  riches.  And  in  those  times  many  will 
stand  up  against  the  king  of  the  South ;  and  violent  men 
of  thy  people  shall  exalt  themselves,  so  as  to  establish  the 

15  vision,  and  shall  fiill.  And  the  king  of  the  North  shall 
come,  and  cast  up  a  mound,  and  take  a  fortified  city ;  and 
the  arms  of  the  South  shall  not  withstand,  neither  his 
chosen  men,  neither  shall  there  be  any  strength  to  with- 

16  stand.  And  he  that  conieth  against  him  shall  do  accord- 
ing to  his  will,  and  none  shall  stand  before  him ;  and  he 
shall  stand  in  the  beautiful  land,  and  destruction  shall  be 

17  in  his  hand.  And  he  shall  set  his  face  to  come  with  the 
strength  of  his  whole  kingdom,  and  shall  make  pacification 
with  him;  and  he  shall  give  him  his  daug^iter  in  marriage, 
to  ruin  his  dominion.     But  it  shall  not  succeed;  neither 


CU.  xi.J  DANIEL.  323 

18  shall  it  be  for  hi  in.  After  this  he  shall  turn  his  face  to 
the  isles,  and  shall  take  many;  but  a  commander  shall 
put  an  end  to  his  scorn  ;    nay,  shall   cause  his  scorn  to 

19  return  upon  himself.  Then  shall  he  turn  his  face  to  the 
strongholds  of  his  own  land ;  and  he  shall  stumble,  and 
fall,  and  shall  not  be  found. 

20  Then  shall  arise  in  his  place  one  who  shall  send  an  ex- 
acter  of  tribute  through  the  glory  of  his  kingdom;  but 
within  few  days  shall  he  be  destroyed,  neither  by  anger 
nor  by  battle. 

21  And  in  his  place  shall  arise  a  despised  person,  to  whom 
they  shall  not  give  the  honor  of  the  kingdom ;  but  in  the 
midst  of  peace  he  shall  come  in  and  obtain  the  kingdom 

22  by  flatteries.  And  the  forces  of  a  flood  shall  be  over- 
whelmed before  him,  and  shall  be  broken  in  pieces ;  and 

23  even  the  prince  that  is  allied  with  him.  For  after  mak- 
ing a  league  with  him,  he  will  practise  deceit ;  for  he  will 

24  come  up,  and  prevail  with  a  small  people.  In  the  midst 
of  security  shall  he  come  into  the  fattest  provinces  of  the 
land,  and  he  shall  do  what  his  fathers  never  did,  nor  his 
fathers'  fathers  ;  he  shall  scatter  among  them  prey,  and 
spoil,  and  riches ;  and  he  shall  form  his  devices  against 

25  the  strongholds,  even  to  a  set  time.  And  he  shall  stir 
up  his  power  and  his  courage  against  the  king  of  the 
South,  with  a  great  array ;  and  the  king  of  the  South  shall 
be  stirred  up  to  battle  with  a  very  great  and  mighty  ar- 
my ;  but  he  shall  not  stand,  for  they  shall  form  devices 

26  against  him.  Even  they  that  eat  of  his  own  food  shall 
destroy  him ;  and  his  army  shall  overflow,  and  many  shall 

27  fall  down  slain.  And  the  hearts  of  both  these  kings  shall 
be  to  do  mischief;  and  at  one  table  shall  they  speak  lies ; 
but  it  shall  not  prosper  ;  for  yet  the  end  is  for  the  ap- 

28  pointed  time.  Then  shall  he  return  into  his  land  with 
great  riches ;  and  he  will  set  his  heart  against  the  holy 
covenant,  and  he  will  execute  his  purposes,  and  return  to 
his  own  land. 

29  At  the  appointed  time  he  shall  again  go  against  the 
South  ;  but  the  second  time  it  shall  not  be  as  at  the  first. 

30  For  the  Chittnean  ships  shall  come  against  him,  and  he 
shall  be  discouraged,  and  return,  and  be  enraged  against 
the  holy  covenant,  and  execute  his  purposes ;  and  he  shall 
again  have  an  understanding  with  them  that  forsake  the 


32-i  DANIEL.  [CH.  XI. 

31  holy  covenant.  And  forces  shall  be  raised  by  liira,  which 
shall  pollute  the  sanctuary,  the  stronghold,  and  take  away 
the  daily  sacrifice,  and  set  up   the   abomination    of  the 

32  destroyer.  And  such  as  do  wickedly  against  the  cove- 
nant will  he  lead  to  apostasy  by  flatteries ;  but  the  peo- 
ple that  know  their  God  shall  be  strong,  and  do  exploits. 

33  And  they  that  have  understanding  among  the  people  shall 
instruct  many  ;  but  they  shall  fall  by  tlie  sword,  and  by 

34  flame,  by  captivity,  and  by  spoil,  many  days.  And  whilst 
they  fall  they  shall  receive  a  little  help,  and  many  shall 

35  join  themselves  to  them  with  flatteries.  And  some  of 
them  of  understanding  shall  fall,  to  try  them,  and  to  puri- 
fy, and  cleanse,  even  to  tlie  time  of  the  end,  for  it  is  yet 

36  at  the  time  appointed.  And  the  king  shall  do  according 
to  his  will;  and  he  will  exalt  himself"  and  magnify  himself 
against  every  god,  and  he  will  speak  horrible  things 
against  the  God  of  gods,  and  he  will  prosper  until  the 
indignation  be    accomplished ;  for    that    which    is    deter- 

37  mined  shall  be  done.  Neither  will  he  regard  the  god  of 
his  fathers,  nor  the  desire  of  women  ;  nor  will  he  regard 

38  any  god,  but  he  will  magnify  himself  against  all.  But  ia 
their  place  will  he  honor  the  god  of  strongholds,  even  the 
god  whom  his  fathers  knew  not  shall  he  honor  with  gold, 
and  with  silver,  and  with  precious  stones,  and  with  jew- 

39  els.  And  he  shall  do  his  will  against  fenced  strongholds 
with  a  strange  god  ;  whoever  acknowledge  him,  to  them  he 
wil]  give  great  honor,  and  give  them  dominion  over  many, 
and  divide  the  land  amongst  them  for  a  reward. 

40  But  at  the  time  of  the  end  shall  the  king  of  the  South 
push  at  him,  and  the  king  of  tlie  North  shall  rush  against 
him  like  a  whirlwind  with  chariots,  and  with  horsemen, 
and  with  many  ships ;  and  he  shall  enter  into  the  coun- 

41  tries,  and  overflow  them,  and  pass  over  them.  He  shall 
also  enter  into  the  beautiful  land,  and  multitudes  shall  be 
overthrown  ;  but  these  shall  escape  out  of  his  hand,  Edom, 

42  and  Moab,  and  the  chief  of  the  sons  of  Ammon.  He  shall 
stretch  forth  his  hand  also  upon  the  countries,  and  the 

43  land  of  Egypt  shall  not  escape.  And  he  shall  have  power 
over  the  treasures  of  gold  and  of  silver,  and  over  all  the 
precious  things  of  Egypt ;  and  the  Lybians  and  Ethiopi- 

44  ans  shall  be  in  his  train.  But  tidings  out  of  the  East  and 
out  of  the  North  shall  trouble  him,  and  he  shull  go  forth 


en.  xii.J  DANIEL.  325 

with   great  fury  to  destroy  and  utterly  to  make  away 
45  mauy.     And  he  shall  pitch  his  palace-tents  between  the 
sea  and  the  beautiful  holy  mountain ;  but  he  shall  come 
to  his  end,  and  none  shall  help  him. 

1  And  at  that  time  shall  Michael  arise,  the  great  prince 
that  staudeth  up  for  the  sons  of  thy  people ;  and  there 
shall  be  a  time  of  trouble,  such  as  never  was  since  there 
was  a  nation  even  to  that  time ;  and  at  that  time  shall 
thy  people  be  delivered,  every  one  that  is  found  written 

2  in  the  book.  And  many  of  them  that  sleep  in  the  dust 
of  the  earth  shall  awake,  some  to   everlasting  life,  and 

3  some  to  shame,  to  everlasting  contempt.  And  they  that 
are  wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament ; 
and  they  that  turn  the  many  to  righteousness,  as  the  stars 
for  ever  and  ever. 

4  But  thou,  Daniel,  shut  up  these  words,  and  seal  this 
book  even  to  the  time  of  the  end.  Many  shall  run  ea- 
gerly through  it,  and  much  knowledge  shall  be  gained. 

5  And  I  Daniel  looked,  and  behold,  two  others  stood 
there,  one  on  this  side  of  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  the 

6  other  on  that  side  of  the  bank  of  the  river.  And  one  of 
them  said  to  the  man  clothed  in  linen,  who  was  upon  the 
waters  of  the  river,  Plow  long  shall  it  be  to  the  end  of 

7  these  wonders  ?  And  I  heard  the  man  clothed  in  linen, 
who  was  upon  the  waters  of  the  river,  and  he  lifted  up 
his  right  hand  and  his  left  hand  to  heaven,  and  swore  by 
Him  that  liveth  forever,  that  in  a  time,  times,  and  a  half, 
even  when  the  dispersion  of  a  portion  of  the  holy  people 
should  be  at  an  end,  all  these  things  should  be  fultilled. 

8  And  I  heard  but  understood  not;  and  I  said.  My  lord, 

9  what  is  the  latter  end  of  these  things  ?  And  he  said.  Go 
thy  way,  Daniel,  for  the  words  are  closed  up  and  sealed 

10  till  the  time  of  the  end.  Many  shall  be  cleansed,  and 
made  white,  and  purified,  and  the  wicked  will  do  wick- 
edly ;  and  none  of  the  wicked  will  understand,  but  the 

11  wise  will  understand.  And  from  the  time  when  the  daily 
sacrifice  shall  be  taken  away,  and  the  abomination  of  the 
destroyer  set  up,  there  shall  be  a  thousand  two  hundred 

12  and  ninety  days.     Happy  is  he  that  waiteth  and  cometh 

13  to  a  thousand  three  hundred  and  thirty-five  days !  But 
go  tiiou  tliy  way  even  to  the  end ;  for  thou  shalt  rest,  and 
rise  up  to  thy  lot  at  tlie  end  of  the  days. 


NOTES 


NOTES. 


NOTES    ON    JEKEMIAH. 

EEsrECTiNG  Jeremiah,  we  have  more  information  than  respecting 
any  other  prophet ;  and  from  the  study  of  his  hfe,  as  it  may  be  gath- 
ered from  liis  writings,  we  may  gain  some  insight  into  the  nature 
of  tlie  prophetic  olhce,  and  of  prophecy,  and  the  place  which  the  proph- 
ets occupied  in  society. 

It  appears  from  ch.  i.  1  of  the  collection  of  prophecies  ascribed  to 
Jeremiah,  that  he  was  of  the  sacerdotal  race,  being  the  son  of  Hilkiah, 
a  priest  of  Anathoth,  a  city  of  the  priests,  (Josh,  xxi.  18,)  situated,  as 
Jerome  says,  about  three  miles  north  of  Jerusalem.  Some  *  supposo 
his  father  to  have  been  that  Hilkiah,  the  high-priest,  by  whom  the  Book 
of  the  Law  was  found  in  the  temple  in  the  reign  of  Josiah.  But  if  the 
father  of  Jeremiah  had  been  the  high-priest,  it  is  not  very  probable  that 
he  would  have  been  mentioned  merely  as  one  of  the  priests,  without 
any  allusion  to  his  distinguished  station. 

Jeremiah  appeared  in  a  most  calamitous  period  of  his  country's  his- 
tory, and  sustained  the  office  of  prophet,  counselhng  and  warning 
kings  and  people,  for  a  period  of  more  than  forty  years.  But  his  ctforts 
in  behalf  of  his  countrymen  were  vinsuccessful,  and  procured  for  him 
almost  uninterrupted  ill-usage  and  persecution ;  which  extorted  from 
him  some  language  towards  his  pei'secutors  which  cannot  well  be  rec- 
onciled with  the  principles  of  the  Jewish,  much  less  of  the  Christian 
religion,  but  which  did  not  deter  him  from  persevering  in  his  labors 
for  their  good.  He  chose  rather  to  follow  the  fortunes  of  his  country- 
men, and  to  suffer  with  them  the  calamities  which  a  due  regard  to  his 
counsels  might  have  averted,  rather  than  to  live  in  ease  by  the  favor 
of  the  king  of  Babylon.  "  The  ashes  of  Jerusalem  were  dearer  to  him 
than  tlie  splendors  of  a  victor's  court."  After  the  destruction  of  Jeru- 
salem, he  counselled  his  countrymen  not  to  retire  into  Egypt ;  but  his 
advice  having  been  rejected,  he  went  with  them,  and  in  Egypt  prob- 
ably closed  his  life.  There  is  a  tradition  that  he  was  stoned  to  death 
by  the  Jews  at  Tahpanhes,  i.  e.  Daphne,  in  Egypt. 

The  Book  of  Jeremiah  contains  prophecies  and  historical  notices. 
The  greater  part  of  them,  viz.  Ch.  i. -xlv.,  relate  to  the  fortunes  of 

*  Eichhorn. 


330  NOTES. 

Judaea.    Of  these,  ch.  i.  -  xxxix.  preceded  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem ; 
ch.  xl. -  xlv.  followed  it;  and  ch.  xlvi.  -li.  relate  to  foreign  nations. 

From  those  prophecies  of  the  Book  of  Jeremiah  of  which  the  dates 
are  expressly  mentioned,  any  one  can  perceive  that  they  were  arranged 
by  the  collector  of  Jeremiah's  prophecies,  without  regard  to  the  order 
of  time.  The  following  table  exhibits  the  chapters  which  mention  the 
time  when  the  prophecies  contained  in  them  were  delivered. 

Under  Josiah.                  Under  Jehoiakim.  Under  Zedekiah. 

Ch.  m.  6-VI.                  Ch.  XXV.  Ch.  XXI. 

XXVI.  XXIV. 

XXXV.  XXVII. 

XXXVI.  xxvni. 

XLV.  XXIX. 

XXXII. 

XXXIII. 

XXXIV. 

XXXVII. 

XXXVIII. 

XLIX.34-39. 
L.,  LI.* 

In  regard  to  poetic  excellence,  there  is  a  great  inequality  in  the  pro- 
ductions of  Jeremiah.  In  the  prophecy  numbered  III.  in  our  arrange- 
ment, there  is  poetry  of  a  high  order,  if  I  mistake  not,  as  also  in  several 
of  the  prophecies  against  foreign  nations.  It  is  true,  however,  that  in 
spirit,  strength,  and  originality  he  is  inferior  to  such  poets  as  Joel,  Na- 
hum,  Isaiah,  and  Hal)akkuk.  There  is  some  truth  and  some  injustice, 
as  it  seems  to  me,  in  the  criticism  of  the  poet  Campbell  respecting  Jere- 
miah. "  His  genius  seems  to  bend  and  his  voice  to  falter,  under  the 
burden  of  prophecy ;  and  though  sometimes  pleasingly  afiecting,  he 
generally  prolongs  the  accents  of  grief  to  monotony,  and  seldom  avoids 
tautology,  or  reaches  compression,  except  when  he  abridges  the  pro- 
ductions of  other  prophets." 

I.  2.  —  to  whom  the  ivord  of  Jehovah  came ;  i.  e.  who  felt  himself  in- 
spired by  God  to  declare  his  purposes. 

11. — ahnond-ioood :  the  Hebrew  for  almond-tree  is  derived  from  a 
verb  signifying  to  wake  up,  to  watch.  It  is,  as  it  were,  the  wakeful  or 
watchful  tree,  because  it  hastens  before  other  trees  to  wake  up  from  its 
winter's  sleep.     Hence  the  meaning  of  the  vision. 

13.  —  wluoseface.  It  is  difficult  to  say  what  the  prophet  meant  by  the 
face,  or  front,  of  the  pot.  I  suppose  that  he  referred  to  its  mouth,  from 
which  the  steam  issued  forth  towards  Judaea.  In  vision,  the  pot  may 
be  supposed  not  to  stand  erect. 

II.  2. — kindness  shown  thee.  See  Hos.  xi.  1.  The  word  which  is 
here  translated  kindness,  its  most  common  signification,  sometimes  de- 

*  See  U.  59. 


JEREMIAH.  331 

notes  piety,  and  is  supposed  by  some  to  have  this  meaning  in  this  versC; 
conveying  the  sentiment  that  in  early  times  the  Israelites  were  devoted 
to  God. 

5.  —  after  vanity ;  i.  e.  after  idols,  which  are  unsubstantial,  like 
vapor,  having  no  power  to  help. 

11. — their  glory ;  i.  e.  me,  their  God,  whom  it  should  be  their  glory 
to  acknowledge.   — that  which  cajinot  profit ;  i.  e.  idols. 

14. — a  slave;  i.  e.  How  is  it  that  Israel,  once  regarded  as  the  first- 
born son  of  God,  (Exod.  iv.  22,)  is  now  regarded  as  a  slave,  who  may 
be  abused  with  impunity? 

■  16.  — have  consumed  the  crown  of  thy  head ;  i.  e.  have  made  thee  bald, 
or  reduced  thee  to  the  lowest  and  most  ignominious  condition.  See 
2  Kings  ii.  23  ;  Jer.  xlvii.  .5,  xlviii.  37.  Or,  referring  the  image  to  the 
and,  it  may  mean  that  the  enemy  had  consumed  the  best  of  the  fruits 
and  pastures. 

18.  —  with  the  way  of  Egypt,  &c.  Why  do  ye  go,  or  look,  to  Egypt 
for  help,  and  seek  supplies  from  that  source  ?  See  ver.  36.  Others 
understand  the  way  of  Egypt  to  denote  the  religion  of  Egypt,  which  the 
word  sometimes  denotes.  The  meaning  will  then  be,  Why  do  ye  prac- 
tise the  idolatry  of  Egypt "?  Is  it  that  ye  may  be  carried  captive  from 
your  native  land  to  the  banks  of  the  Nile  1 

23.  Baals;  i.e.  images  of  Baal.  — thy  way  in  the  valley;  i.  e.  thy 
conduct,  or  the  way  in  which  thou  hast  prostituted  thyself  by  the  prac- 
tice of  idolatrous  rites  in  the  valley  of  Hinnom.  See  vii.  31.  — travers- 
ing her  ways ;  i.  e.  running  hither  and  thither  under  the  impetuous 
force  of  natural  desire. 

24.  A  xcild  ass.  Here  there  is  an  implied  comparison  between 
the  devotedness  of  Israel  to  idols  and  the  impetuous  desire  of  copula- 
tion in  the  wild  ass.  — desire  —  occasion;  i.  e.  when  natural  desire  is 
most  impetuous,  in  the  sight  or  presence  of  the  male.  —  In  her  month ; 
i.  e.  In  the  month  when  she  seeks  the  male. 

25.  Withhold  thy  feet,  &c.  Either,  Do  not  lose  or  wear  out  thy 
shoes  by  running  after  idols,  or  foreign  aid  ;  or.  Do  not  uncover  thy 
feet  to  go  to  the  bed  of  adultery.  See  Ezek.  xvi.  25.  Or,  Do  not  ex- 
pose thyself  to  the  danger  of  going  into  captivity  unshod,  &,c.  Comp. 
Is.  XX.  4.  — thy  throat  from  thirst.  Some  suppose  this  phraseology  to 
be  indicative  of  adulterous  desires  or  practices.  Others,  that  it  refers 
to  thirst  contracted  by  long  journeys  in  quest  of  foreign  aid,  or  by 
going  into  captivity. 

29. — enter  into  controversy;  i.  e.  complain  that  ye  are  given  up  to 
your  enemies,  and  receive  no  aid  from  me. 

31. — a  wilderness;  i.  e.  have  I  failed  in  bestowing  good  things 
upon  you  ? 

33.'—  Why  trimmest,  &c. ;  lit.  Why  jnalcest  thou  thy  way  good?  i.  e. 
Why  dost  thou  strive  by  fair  words  to  make  thy  actions  appear  good, 
and  thus  to  gain  my  love,  whilst  thou  art  in  the  habitual  practice  of 
wickedness  ?  Otherwise,  Why  dost  thou  use  so  many  arts  to  win  thfc 
friendship  of  foreign  nations  1  Bj  so  doing,  thou  hast  accustomed 
thyself  to  wickedness. 


332  NOTES. 

36.  —  put  to  shame;  i.  e.  disappointed. 

37, — hands  upon  thy  head:  a  sign  of  the  deepest  grief  amongst  tlie 
Hebrews.     See  2  Sam.  xiii.  19. 

III.  1.  Shall  he  return,  &c.  Is  any  husband  so  easy  and  indiffer- 
ent as  to  be  willing  to  take  her  back  again,  even  if  the  law  would 
allow  it  ?  "  The  Arabs  regard  as  one  of  the  severest  forms  of  execra- 
tion, Ter  dimissam  ct  ab  aliis  subactara  recipias."  —  Grotius. 

2.  —  waiting ;  i.  e.  for  lovers,  in  the  manner  of  a  harlot,  as  eagerly 
as  an  Arabian  watches  for  plunder. 

12. — turn  a  frowning  face ;  lit.  /  ^vill  not  let  my  countenance  fall ; 
i.  e,  through  anger.     See  Gen.  iv.  5,  6. 

14.  One  from  a  city,  &c. ;  i.  e.  though  in  a  whole  city  or  nation 
there  should  be  only  one  or  two  Jews,  I  will  not  forget  even  them,  but 
bring  them  back  with  the  rest. 

16.  Then  shall  ije  no  more,  &c.  This  verse  is  explained  by  the 
next.  An  ark  of  the  covenant,  the  symbol  of  the  Divine  presence, 
Buch  as  they  once  had,  shall  not  be  needed,  and  shall  give  place  to  a 
greater  blessing.  For  all  Jerusalem  shall  then  be,  as  it  were,  a  holy 
place,  the  throne  of  Jehovah,  the  place  where  he  dwells  and  reigns. 

21.  — loeeping,  &c.,  on  account  of  their  sins. 

24.  —  the  things  of  shame  ;  i.  e.  idols,  which  disajipoint  the  expecta- 
tions of  their  worshippers,  and  cover  them  with  shame. 

IV.  1.  —  return  —  return.  These  words  seem  to  be  used  in  different 
senses  in  different  parts  of  the  verse,  the  former  denoting  repentance, 
or  returning  to  allegiance  to  God,  the  latter  prosperity,  returning  to 
the  peculiar  protection  of  God,  or  returning  from  captivity. 

2.  —  bless  themselves  by  thee;  i.  e.  saying,  May  God  make  us  as 
happy  as  Israel ! 

3.  Break  up,  &c.  Plough  up,  and  clear  from  thorns,  your  land, 
which  has  been  long  uncultivated.  Clear  away  all  the  bad  habits  and 
practices  which  are  in  the  way  of  entire  devotedness  to  God. 

9. — heart  of  the  king.  As  the  heart  was  considered  the  seat  of  the 
understanding,  as  well  as  of  the  feelings,  this  may  mean  that  the  king 
was  reduced  to  despair,  or  that  his  understanding  failed  him,  that  he 
knew  not  what  to  do. 

16.    Watchmen;  i.  c.  Besiegers. 

20.  —  my  tents;  i.  e.  the  tents  of  my  people.  Comp.  Is.  xxvi.  19, 
in  the  present  version. 

30. — rend  thine  eyes.  It  is  said  that  in  the  East  it  is  common  to 
stain  the  eyelashes  with  a  sort  of  powder,  and,  as  some  assert,  to  scratch 
the  surfoce  of  the  skin  a  little  to  make  the  paint  permanent.  The 
meaning  of  the  prophet  then  is,  If  you  lay  on  ever  so  much  paint,  so  as 
to  rend  or  tear  your  eyes  in  doing  it,  &c.  Dr.  Shaw,  speaking  of  the 
ladies  of  Barbary,  says  :  "But  none  of  these  ladies  take  themselves  to 
be  completely  dressed,  till  they  have  tinged  the  hair  and  edges  of  their 
eyelids  with  the  powder  of  lead  ore.     Now  as  this  operation  is  per- 


JEREMIAH.  obo 

formed  by  dipping  first  into  the  powder  a  small  wooden  bodkin  of  the 
thickness  of  a  quill,  and  then  drawing  it  afterwards  through  the  eye- 
lids, over  the  ball  of  the  eye,  we  shall  have  a  lively  image  of  what  the 
prophet  may  be  supposed  to  mean  by  rending  the  eyes  with  paint."  See 
Shaw's  Travels,  &c.  p,  294,  folio  ed. 

v.  10.  — her  branches;  i.  e.  leaving  only  the  trunk  or  stem.  Comp. 
Is.  vi.  13. 

13. — the  loord;  i.  e.  of  God.  They  are  not  sent,  or  inspired. — 
Thus  may  it  happen  to  them ;  i.  e.  May  the  evils  which  they  predict  fall 
upon  their  own  heads  ! 

16.  — like  an  open  sepidchre.  An  open  sepulchre  is  one  into  which  the 
dead  will  immediately  be  received.  It  is  an  image  to  denote  the  sure 
and  speedy  destruction  inflicted  by  the  arrows  of  the  enemy. 

31. — end  of  it;  i.  e.  in  the  event  or  consequences  of  your  horrible 
conduct. 

VI.  3. — shepherds  with  their  flocks ;  i.  e.  military  commanders  with 
their  armies,  who  shall  cover  the  land  and  devour  everything,  like 
flocks. 

4.  Alas  for  xis!  for  the  day,  &c.  This  is  the  language  of  impatience 
from  the  soldiers,  eager  for  plunder. 

9.  —  to  the  baskets.  This  seems  to  be  addressed  to  the  invading  king, 
exhorting  him  to  collect  spoil,  as  a  grape-gatherer  puts  into  the  baskets 
again  and  again  the  grapes  which  he  has  gathered. 

23. — as  a  luarrior ;  i.  e.  all  the  common  soldiers  being  arrayed  like 
a  champion  or  hero. 

29.  —  bellows  burn ;  through  the  intense  heat ;  i.  e.  all  the  means  for 
refining  are  exhausted. 

VII.  4.  —  are  these ;  i.  e.  these  buildings  and  courts,  belonging  to  the 
temple.  The  lying  words  mentioned  in  this  verse  refer  to  what  is  im- 
plied, rather  than  expressed,  viz.  that,  because  the  temple  was  the  tem- 
ple of  Jehovah,  he  would  never  suffer  it  to  be  taken  by  enemies,  but 
on  the  contrary  always  defend  it  and  the  city  in  which  it  stood. 

11.  —  ivhich  is  called  by  my  name;  i.  e.  which  is  called  mine,  has  my 
name  connected  with  it,  is  called  the  temple  of  Jehovah. 

12.  Shiloh  :  a  place  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  where  the  tabernacle 
was  placed,  (Josh,  xviii.  1,)  which  Jehovah  abandoned,  and  delivered 
the  ark  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  which  was  afterwards  carried,  not 
to  Shiloh,  but  to  Kirjath-jearim.  See  1  Sam.  iv.  11,  12  ;  vii.  1,  2;  Ps. 
Ixxviii.  60. 

VIII.  14.  —  ivait  in  silence,  &c. ;  i.  e.  cease  from  all  effort,  from  all 
resistance  to  the  enemy  ;  for  God  hath  taken  away  from  us  all  powei 
of  making  successful  resistance.     Or  the  lines  may  be  rendered, 

"  And  let  us  there  perish, 
For  Jehovah  our  God  hath  determined  to  destroy  us." 


334  NOTES. 

16. — their  horses;  lit.  his;  i.  e.  of  the  enemy. 

19. — foreign  vanities,  ov  foreign  nothings  ;  i.  e.  idols. 

IX.  17.  —  skilful  ones.     See  Amos  v.  16,  and  the  note. 

21.  —  windows;  the  barred  doors  not  being  able  to  keep  it  out. 

26.  —  all  with  shaven  cheeks ;  lit.  shaven  as  to  the  comers ;  i.  e.  the  cor- 
ners of  the  hair  on  the  cheeks  before  the  ears ;  i.  e.  the  whiskers.  By 
this  reproachful  epithet  the  Arabians  are  denoted. 

X.  2. — signs  of  the  heavens;  i.  e.  uncommon  phenomena,  such  as 
eclipses  of  the  sun  and  moon,  comets,  meteors,  &c.  Others  suppose  the 
heavenly  bodies  themselves  to  be  intended,  in  reference  to  the  astrology 
of  the  Chaldceans. 

11.  This  verse  is  in  Chaldee  ;  and  I  cannot  help  thinking  it  to  be  an 
interpolation  transferred  from  the  margin  of  some  manuscript  into  the 
text. 

17.  — th)/  goods,  &c. ;  i.  e.  Prepare  thyself  to  go  into  captivity.  — for- 
tress; i.  e.  Jerusalem. 

19-21.  Here  the  Jewish  people  is  represented  as  speaking.  So  in 
ver.  23  -  25. 

XI.  15.  What  hath  my  beloved,  &c. ;  i.  e.  my  people  deserve  no 
ronger  to  have  the  care  of  my  temple.  —  The  holy  flesh,  &c. ;  i.  e.  sac- 
rifices shall  no  more  be  offered,  the  temple  being  destroyed. 

XII.  4.  He  will  not  see,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  God  will  not  care  about  what 
shall  happen  to  us  hereafter ;  he  will  not  see  whether  our  latter  end  be 
good  or  bad.  He  will  not  concern  himself  about  rewarding  or  punish- 
ing us. 

5.  —  in  the  glory  of  Jordan;  i.  e.  in  the  forests  infested  by  wild  beasts 
on  the  banks  of  the  Jordan,  called  its  glory  on  account  of  their  beauti- 
ful appearance.  See  xlix.  19,  1.  44  ;  Zech.  xi.  3.  Volney  says:  "Its 
banks  are  covered  with  a  thick  forest  of  reeds,  willows,  and  various 
shrubs,  which  serve  as  an  asylum  for  wild  boars,  ounces,  jackals,  and 
different  kinds  of  birds."  (Travels,  Vol.  II.  p.  30.)  Carne  says: 
"  The  banks  [of  the  Jordan]  were  adorned  with  acacia  and  tamarind 
trees,  and  many  shrubs  and  wild-flowers.  The  sight  of  this  verdure 
in  such  a  spot  was  very  pleasing."  (Letters  from  the  East,  Vol.  I.  p. 
20.)  See  also  Maundrell's  Travels  from  Syria  to  Aleppo,  p.  139, 
American  edition.  The  rendering  swelling  of  Jordan  is  not  so  agree- 
able to  Zcch.  xi.  3,  where  the  pride  or  glory  of  Jordan  is  said  to 
be  destroyed.  God  reproves  the  prophet  for  his  complaints,  and  in- 
timates that  greater  evils  awaited  him  than  any  which  he  had  endured. 

XIII.  1.  —  into  water ;  i.  e.  wash  it  not,  so  that,  being  dirty,  it  may 
be  a  tit  emblem  of  the  polluted  house  of  Israel. 

12.  The  prophet  threatened  that  every  flagon  should  be  filled 
with  wine  :  meaning,  probably,  the  wine  of  Divine  punishment,  which 


JEREMIAH.  335 

they  should  be  made  to  drink.  The  people,  ignorant  of  his  meaning-, 
or  pretending  to  be  ignorant  of  it,  and  to  understand  it  in  a  literal 
sense,  said,  in  etFect,  Well,  what  is  there  strange  in  this,  that  flagons 
should  be  tilled  with  wine  7  We  like  and  expect  a  good  vintage,  trom 
which  wo  shall  till  our  flagons. 

16.  —  dark  moantahis ;  i.  e.  before  you  are  involved  in  ruin,  like 
those  who,  being  upon  mountains  full  of  high  clitfs  or  deep  pits,  in 
the  night  stumble,  fall,  and  are  destroyed. 

19.  —  cities  of  the  South:  either  the  southern  cities  of  Judah,  or,  as 
some  suppose,  the  cities  of  Egypt,  which  should  be  besieged,  and  be 
able  to  aflbrd  Judah  no  aid.      ISce  2  Kings  xxiv.  7. 

21.  —  hast  taught  them;  i.  e.  by  asking  their  aid,  seeking  to  be  allied 
with  them. 

XIV.  2.  —  the  gates  thereof;  i.  e.  the  cities  of  Judah  ;  i.  e.  their  in- 
habitants. 

3.  —  ashamed.  To  he  ashamed  is  often  used  as  a  strong  expression 
to  denote  disappointment.  — cover  their  heads,  like  mourners.  2  Sam. 
XV.  30 ;  Esth.  vi.  12. 

5.  — tlie  hind,  &c.  Though  attached  to  her  young,  hunger  compels 
her  to  abandon  them  and  seek  food  in  some  distant  place. 

8.  As  a  traveller :  who  cares  not  for  the  land  where  he  stops. 

16.  —  their  wickedness;  i.  e.  the  consequence,  the  punishment,  of 
their  wickedness. 

21. — thy  glorious  throne;  i.  e.  the  temple.  Do  not  suffer  it  to  be 
polluted  or  destroyed  by  our  enemies. 

XV.  7. — with  a  winnowing  fan ;  i.  e.  I  will  thrust  them  out  as  chaff 
with  a  winnowing-fan. 

9.  The  greatness  of  'the  slaughter  is  set  forth  by  the  circumstance, 
that  of  seven  sons  not  one  is  left  to  be  a  comfort  to  the  mother.  —  Her 
sun,  &c. ;  i.  e.  in  the  midst  of  prosperity  and  joy  she  suddenly  became 
miserable.    —  ashamed,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  grievously  disappointed. 

12. — to  break  iron.  This  verse  seems  to  denote  the  irresistible  force 
of  the  Chaldasan  invasion.  Others  connect  it  with  the  last  paragraph, 
and  refer  it  to  Jeremiah.  Who  is  able  to  overpower  one,  whom  I 
have  made  like  the  hardest  iron  "? 

14. — them;  i.e.  thy  substance  and  treasures.  According  to  a 
various  reading,  found  in  some  manuscripts,  and  in  the  Sept.  and  Syr. 
versions,  the  translation  would  be,  "  I  will  cause  thee  to  serve  thine 
enemies, "  &c.,  so  as  to  correspond  with  xvii.  4. 

15. — thy  long-suffering ;  i.  e.  toward  my  enemies. 

16.  —  /  am  called  by  thy  name;  i.  e.  I  have  thy  name  connected  with 
me  ;  I  am  called  a  prophet  of  Jehovah  ;  I  am  thy  prophet. 

17.  On  account  of  thy  hand  I  have  sat  alone;  i.  e.  on  account  of  thy 
spirit  upon  me,  which  compels  me  to  utter  messages  of  woe,  I  am 
shunned  and  deserted  by  all  men.  — thou  hast  filed  me  ivith  indignation. 
On   account  of  what  immediately  follows    and  of  what  precedes   in 


om  NOTES. 

verse  15,  I  understand  the  meaning  to  be,  that  the  prophet  in  the 
discharge  of  his  prophetic  office  was  overwhelmed  with  the  indigna- 
tion or  insolent  reproaches  of  his  countiymen.  See  verse  10;  also 
in  the  Heh.,  IIos.  vii.  16.  The  meaning  is  by  most  critics  supposed 
to  be,  "  Thou  hast  made  me  utter  messages  of  wrath  continually." 

18.  — like  a  deceitful  stream.     See  Job  vi.  15  -  20,  with  the  note. 

19.  —  If  thou  wilt  return;  i.  e.  from  thy  diffidence,  thy  complaints 
against  me,  thy  discontent  in  the  discharge  of  thine  office,  as  my 
prophet. —  They  shall  turn,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  they  shall  seek  thy  favor  and 
good  offices,  and  thou  shalt  not  be  a  suppliant  to  them. 

XVI.  6. — cut  himself:  a  heathenish  usage,  forbidden  by  the  Jew- 
ish  law.  Lev.  xix.  28,  but  retained  from  the  force  of  custom. 

7.  —  break  bread  for  them ;  i.  e.  shall  send  them  no  materials  for  a 
funeral  feast,  nor  partake  of  one  with  them. 

XVII.  4.  — of  thyself ;  i.  e.  as  a  consequence  of  thine  own  conduct. 
5.  — his  arm;  i.  e.  his  support. 

9.  Yea,  it  is  corrupt.  The  verb  rendered  it  is  corrupt  is  applied 
elsewhere  to  an  incurable  wound  (xv.  18,  Micah  i.  9);  to  a  calamitous 
day  (Jer.  xvii.  16) ;  to  a  hopeless  sorrow  (Is.  xvii.  11).  It  is  here  used 
in  a  moral  sense,  just  as  the  word  corrupt  is  used  sometimes  in  a  phys- 
ical, sometimes  in  a  moral  sense.  The  rendering  of  Blayney,  •'  it  is 
even  past  hope,"  though  paraphrastic,  perhaps  expresses  the  true 
meaning,  which  may  be  limited  by  the  preceding  parallel  line  ;  viz. 
that  there  is  no  chance  that  any  one  should  be  ahle  to  trace  the  deceit- 
ful human  heart  through  all  its  windings,  and  discover  what  is  at  the 
bottom  of  it. 

11.  —  the  paHridge.  "It  is  said  by  naturalists,"  says  Jerome,  "that 
the  partridge  steals  the  eggs  of  other  birds  and  hatches  them."  But 
the  young,  being  unlike  the  mother,  abandon  her,  and  leave  her  noth- 
ing to  compensate  her  for  her  trouble.  vSo  riches,  procured  by  unfair 
means,  take  to  themselves  wings  and  fly  away.  — a  fool;  i.  e.  he  is 
grievously  disappointed,  finding  in  the  end  that  he  has  labored  in 
vain. 

12.  —  throne,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  the  place  of  our  sanctuary,  the  temple,  hath 
been  a  glorious  throne,  viz.  the  seat  or  dwelling-place  of  Jehovah,  to 
•which  our  fathers  resorted  for  help.  In  vei'.  5,  Jeremiah  had  pro- 
nounced a  curse  upon  those  who  trusted  in  flesh,  referring  probably 
to  Jehoiakim's  solicitude  to  obtain  assistance  from  Egypt.  In  opposi- 
tion to  this,  he  would  have  them  seek  aid  from  Jehovah, 

13.  —  loritten  in  dust;  i.  e.  given  up  to  destruction  and  oblivion,  as 
names  written  in  dust  quickly  disappear,  if  there  be  the  slightest 
breeze. 

14.  —  my  praise:  I  glory  in  thee,  as  a  powerful  deliverer. 

16.  Jei'cmiah  had  been  ridiculed,  ver.  15,  for  predicting  calamities 
which  never  came  to  pass.  In  this  vei'se  he  says  that  he  had  neither 
shunned  his  office,  nor  desired  the  calamities  wliich  he  predicted. 


JEREMIAH.  Oo7 

17. — a  terror  to  me;  i.  e.  by  not  fulfilling  tlie  predictions  which  I 
have  luade,  and  thus  abandoniug  mc  to  the  insults  of  my  enemies. 

XVIII.  3.  —  wheel;  lit.  stones.  This  instrument  is  thus  described 
by  Kabbi  Jonah,  or  Abulwalid,  a  leai-ned  Spanish  Jew  of  the  twelfth 
century.  "  This  is  a  double  instrument,  upon  which  the  potter  turns 
his  earthen  vessels.  It  consists  of  two  wheels  like  the  stones  of  a 
hand-mill,  but  of  wood.  The  one  is  larger,  and  is  below  ;  the  other 
smaller,  and  above.  It  has  the  name  of  '  stones,'  on  account  of  its 
resemblance  to  the  two  stones  of  a  hand-mill,  although  it  is  not  made 
of  stone,  but  of  wood.  This  instrument  of  the  potter  is  not  common 
here  [i.  e.  in  Spain],  but  is  peculiar  to  Eastern  potters.  But  1  have 
seen  one  here,  belonging  to  an  Eastern  potter  whom  we  have  here." 
—  Preface  to  Gcs.  Lex.,  2d.  edit.,  p.  xviii. 

15. — snow,  &c. ;  i.e.  It  is  as  contrary  to  nature  that  my  people 
should  forsake  me,  as  that  the  snow-water  from  Lebanon  should  for- 
sake the  fields  of  Palestine.  Volney,  in  describing  the  chain  of  moun- 
tains of  Lebanon  and  Akkar,  says:  "In  winter  their  tops  arc  entirely 
covered  with  snow,  from  Aiexandretta  to  Jerusalem  ;  but  after  the 
month  of  i\larch  it  melts,  except  on  mount  Lebanon,  where,  however, 
it  docs  not  remain  the  whole  year,  unless  in  the  highest  cavities  aiM 
towards  the  northeast,  where  it  is  sheltered  from  the  sea-winds  and 
the  rays  of  the  sun.  In  such  a  situation  1  saw  it  still  remaining,  in 
1784,  at  the  very  time  I  was  almost  sutiocated  with  heat  in  the  valley 
of  lialbec."  See  Robinson's  Calmet,  Art.  Libanus.  Tacitus  says  : 
"Prajcipuum  montium  Libanum  erigit,  mirum  dictu,  tantos  inter 
ardores  opacum  tidumcpie  nivibus.  Idem  amnem  Jordanem  alit  fun- 
ditque."  (Hist.,  Lib.  V.  Cap.  6).  And  Maundreli,  who  lodged  upon 
the  top  of  it  ou  the  sixth  of  May,  says :  "  By  its  exceeding  hcu-ht  it 
proves  a  conservatory  for  abundance  of  snow  ;  which,  thawing  %  the 
heat  of  summer,  attbrds  supplies  of  water  to  the  rivers  and  fountains 
in  the  valleys  below."    (Journey,  p.  238,  Amer.  edit.) 

15.  —  Tliey  stumble,  &c. :  they  pretend  that  it  is  hard  to  follow  the 
laws  and  institutions  of  their  fathers,  and  consequently  neglect  them. 

17. — east  wind.  This  wind  is  represented  in  the  Scriptures  as  very 
violent,  and  as  blasting  and  drying  up  fruits.  See  Gen.  xli.  6  ;  Ezek. 
xvii.  10  ;  xxvii.  26.  Sec  a  valuable  article  on  Winds,  in  llobinson's 
Calmet. 

18.  — the  icord;  i.  e.  the  Divine  word,  inspiration. 

20. — announce  good  to  them:  ready  and  eager  to  jiromise  them 
blessings  from  God. 

XIX.  2.  — valley  of  the  son  of  Hinnom.  —  Tophet,  vcr.  6.  This  was 
a  beautiful  valley  southeast  of  Jerusalem.  St.  Jerome  speaks  of  it  as 
a  delighti'ul  place,  well  watered  and  full  of  trees.  These  trees  formed 
probably  a  beautiful  grove,  and  hence  this  spot  was  selected  as  the 
place  of  idolatrous  worship.  Here  the  Israelites  offered  their  children 
to  Moloch  (represented  in   the  form  of  a  brazen  image,   having  the 

VOL.  II.  15 


338  NOTES. 

members  of  the  human  body  and  the  head  of  an  ox),  causing  them  to 
drop  from  the  arms  of  the  idol  into  a  furnace  of  fire.  It  was  called 
To]jhet,  I  suppose  because  it  was  a  place  of  burning,  (see  Ges.  upon 
the  Hebrew  for  Tophet,)  either  of  children,  or  of  dead  bodies.  Others, 
with  less  probability,  suppose  that  it  was  so  called  because  drums  were 
beaten  there  to  drown  the  cries  of  the  victims.  I  am  not  aware  that 
this  circumstance,  however  probable,  has  a  historical  foundation.  If  it 
has,  it  is  of  too  incidental  a  character  to  give  name  to  a  place.  After 
the  captivity,  the  Jews  regai'ded  the  place  with  abiiorrence,  and  after 
the  example  of  Josiah,  2  Kings  xxiii.  10,  threw  into  it  all  kinds  of 
filth,  the  carcasses  of  animals,  and  the  dead  bodies  of  malefactors  ; 
and  fires  were  kept  burning  in  the  valley  to  consume  them.  Hence  it 
was  used  by  the  Jews  as  an  emblem  to  denote  severe  punishment, 
especially  tlie  punishment  of  the  future  world. 

4.  —  alienated  this  place ;  i.  e.  used,  for  the  worship  of  other  gods, 
that  which  is  my  peculiar  inheritance,  or  possession. 

5.  —  high  places;  i.  e.  artificial  mounds  for  the  idolatrous  sacrifices. 

XX.  5. — possessions;  lit.  labors ;  hence,  what  is  got  by  labor,  oc- 
quisitions,  posses'iions. 

7. — didst  persuade  me;  i.  e.  to  assume  the  prophetic  ofiice  ;  to  go 
and  prophesy  to  this  people. 

9.  So  I  say ;  i.  e.  I  sometimes  say  to  myself,  or  think,  that  I  will 
renounce  my  otfice.  The  remainder  of  the  verse  is  well  explained  by  Ad- 
am Ohirke.  "  He  felt  stings  of  conscience  for  the  hasty  and  disobedi- 
ent resolution  he  had  formed  ;  he  felt  ashamed  of  his  own  weakness, 
that  did  not  confide  in  the  promise  and  strength  of  God ;  and  God's 
word  was  in  him  as  a  strongly  raging  fire,  and  he  was  obliged  to  deliv- 
er it  in  order  to  get  rid  of  the  tortures  which  he  felt  from  suppressing 
the  solemn  message  which  God  had  given.  It  is  as  dangerous  to  re- 
fuse to  go  when  called,  as  to  run  witliout  a  call." 

14.  The  verses  which  toilow  indicate  so  different  a  state  of  mind 
from  that  expressed  in  the  verses  immediately  preceding,  that  some 
suppose  them  to  constitute  a  j)iece  by  itself.  Others  suppose  them 
to  be  the  language  of  one  of  the  enemies  of  Jeremiah,  Tashur  for  in- 
stance. Othci's,  that  they  have  in  some  way  lost  their  proper  {)h\ce. 
They  would  come  in  well  enough  after  verse  eighth.  It  is  difficult 
to  suppose  them  to  constitute  the  whole  of  a  piece  published  by  Jere- 
miah. 

15.  Rosenmueller  observes  that  it  is  still  a  custom  in  Persia  to  give 
a  present  to  him  that  communicates  to  a  parent  the  tidings  of  the  birth 
of  a  son. 

XXI.  9. — as  a  prey ;  i.  e.  as  something  gained.  In  the  midft  of 
universal  destruction  and  despair,  to  save  one's  own  life  shall  be  like 
gaining  that  which  belongs  to  the  enemy. 

13.  —  valley,  the  rock  of  the  plain.  Jerusalem  seems  to  be  here  repre- 
fcented  as  a  valley,  inasmuch  as  it  was  surrounded  by  hills,  which  valley 


JEREMIAH.  339 

and  hills  are  called  the  rock  of  the  plain,  in  reference  to  the  plains  beyond 
them. 

XXII.  6.  Gilead.  Perhaps  there  is  an  allusion  to  the  oaks  of  Gil- 
ead  or  Bashan,  and  the  cedars  of  Lebanon,  of  which  the  paUice  was 
constructed.  Or  the  royal  family  in  their  flourishing  condition  may  be 
compared  to  Lebanon,  the  highest  mountain,  and  Gilead,  the  most  fer- 
tile part  of  Judxa. 

10.  — for  him  that  is  dead;  i.  e.  in  reference  to  Josiah,  the  pious  and 
patriotic  king,  who  died  deeply  lamented,  and  who  was.  not  permitted  to 
see  the  disgrace  of  his  country,  or  to  endure  the  pain  and  shame  of 
captivity.  — him  who  is  gone  aivaj/ ;  i.  e.  Shallum,  ver.  11,  who  was 
probably  the  same  with  Jehoahaz,  the  son  of  Josiah,  whom  Pharaoh- 
Necho  had  carried  captive  into  Egypt,  2  Kings  xxiii.  33,  from  which 
he  was  never  to  return. 

13.  Woe  to  him;  i.  e.  Jehoiakim,  ver.  18,  the  brother  and  successor 
of  Jehoahaz  or  Shallum. 

15.  —  eat  and  drink ;  i.  e.  Did  he  not  live  in  the  style  of  a  king  ? 
18.  — brother  —  sister.    Some  suppose  that  these  terms  have  reference 

to  the  king  and  the  queen,  in  relation  to  the  death  of  the  one,  and  the 
grief  of  the  other.  Others  suppose  that  Brother  and  Sister  are  applied 
by  one  citizen  to  another,  in  the  tenderness  produced  by  public  grief. 

24.    Coniah;  tlie  same  as  Jeconiah. 

28.  Is  tJien  this  man,  &c.  Supply,  Men  shall  say  of  him,  in  wonder 
or  derision,  For  what  cause  was  he  cast  off,  but  because  he  was  worth- 
less 1 

30.  — childless:  though  he  had  seven  children,  yet,  leaving  no  succes- 
sor upon  the  throne,  he  was  to  be  regarded  as  childless. 

XXIII.  1.  —  shepherds;  i.  e.  magistrates,  especially  kings. 

6.  Jehovah-is-our-salvation.  This  symbolical  name  was  to  be  given 
to  the  glorious  king,  the  Messiah,  here  predicted,  to  denote  that  Je- 
hovah would  bring  salvation  to  his  people  by  his  means,  or  to  denote 
what  is  said  in  the  two  preceding  lines,  that  "  in  his  days  Judah 
should  be  saved  and  Israel  dwell  securely."  In  regard  to  tJie  ren- 
dering salvation,  it  is  a  secondary  signification  of  the  original  term, 
which,  denoting  righteousness,  was  used  to  denote  the  favor  of  God 
consequent  upon  it,  and  hence  deliverance,  blessings,  salvation.  See 
Gescnius's  Lex.  That  the  substantive  verb  should  be  supplied  is  evi- 
dent from  the  application  of  the  name  to  the  city  of  Jerusalem  in  ch. 
xxxiii.  16,  and  from  the  application  of  similar  names  to  various  per- 
sons in  the  Old  Testament ;  for  instance,  to  Elijah.  It  is  not  at  all 
probable  that  he  was  called  Mi/  God  the  Lord,  or  Afy  God  Jehovah,  but 
Jehovah  is  my  God.  So  the  common  version  correctly  renders  Ezek. 
xlviii.  35,  "  The  Lord  is  there." 

10.  — curse.     See  Is.  xxiv.  6  ;  Zech.  v.  3. 

14. — her;  i.  e.  of  Jerusalem. 

16.  ^vanity ;  i.  e.  idolatry. 


SiO  NOTES. 

18.     For  who;  i.  e.  among  those  false  prophets,  vei*.  16. 

23.  Am  I  a  God  near  at  hand,  and  not,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  Am  I  such  a 
God  as  can  see  only  those  things  that  are  near,  and  not  those  which 
are  remote  '\ 

28.  — let  him  tell  a  dream;  i.  e.  as  a  dream,  and  nothing  more.  But 
some  understand  it,  Let  him  that  hath  a  dream  from  God  tell  it  faith- 
fullu,  this  word  being  borrowed  from  the  parallel  line.  —  What  is  the 
chaff,  &.C. ;  i.  e.  AVhat  are  the  lying  dreams  of  false  prophets  to  my  will, 
as  announced  by  true  prophets  ? 

29. — like  fire  —  like  a  hammer.  Some  understand  this  verse  to  ex- 
press the  efficacy  of  the  Divine  word  upon  the  hearers  of  the  prophets ; 
others,"  that  it  refers  to  the  powerful  internal  impulse  with  which  the 
true  prophets  were  affected,  and  which  the  false  did  not  feel.  See  ver. 
9,  and  Ezek.  iii.  14 ;  also  the  Introduction,  p.  viii. 

30.  —  that  steal  my  words,  &c.  Some  sujjpose  this  language  to  refer 
to  those  who  borrowed  the  language  and  thoughts  of  the  true  proph- 
ets, so  that  they  might  obtain  the  greater  influence.  Others  suppose  the 
meaning  to  be,  that  they  stole  the  words  of  the  true  prophets  from  the 
minds  of  the  people  ;  i.  e.  prevented  the  influence  of  the  truth  by  their 
own  falsehoods. 

31. — take  their  tongues,  &c.  This  phraseology  seems  to  indicate 
that  the  lalse  prophets  misused  their  tongues,  —  forced  them  to  utter 
what  they  were  not  designed  to  utter. 

33.  What  is  the  harden  ?  Here  is  a  play  upon  the  original  word, 
which  means  both  an  oracle  or  jyrophecy,  and  a  burden.  The  people, 
in  derision  of  Jeremiah's  gloomy  prophecies,  saluted  him  with  the 
question.  What's  the  burden'?  What  new  burden  do  you  lay  upon 
us  now  ? 

36. — eveiy  man's  ivord ;  i.  e.  the  word  or  language  of  every  scoffer 
shall  bring  woe  to  him. 

XXIV.  2.  — first  lipe.  "  Dr.  Shaw  speaks  of  three  sorts  of  figs  ; 
the  first  of  which  he  calls  the  hoccore  (being  those  here  spoken  of), 
which  come  to  maturity  towards  the  middle  or  latter  end  of  June ;  the 
second,  the  kennez,  or  summer  fig,  which  ripens  seldom  before  August ; 
and  the  third,  which  he  calls  the  winter  fig.  This  is  usually  of  a 
much  longer  shape  and  darker  complexion  than  the  kennez,  hanging 
and  ri])ening  upon  the  tree,  even  after  the  leaves  are  shed  ;  and,  pro- 
vided the  winter  proves  temperate,  is  gathered  as  a  delicious  morsel  in 
the  s])ring.  Shaw's  Travels,  p.  370,  fol."  Blayney.  The  prophet 
may  refer  to  the  species  first  ripe.  But  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  he 
refers  to  those  figs  of  any  species  which  were  soonest  ripe,  and  would 
be  valued  on  account  of  their  rarity,  as  well  as  their  intrinsic  excel- 
lence. 

XXV.  10. — the  sound  of  the  millstones.  Sir  John  Chardin,  as  quoteil 
by  Blayney,  observes  that  "  in  the  East  they  grind  their  corn  at 
break  of  day ;  and  that  when  one  goes  out  in  the  morning,  one  hears 


JEREMIAH.  341 

everywhere  the  noise  of  the  mill ;  and  that  it  is  the  noise  that  often 
awakes  people."  Hence  there  must  be  desolation  where  no  cheerful 
nuise  was  heard  in  the  morning,  and  no  habitations  were  lighted  up  in 
the  evening. 

13. — all  that  is  written,  &c.  It  is  probable  that  this  latter  clause 
was  added  by  some  transcriber. 

15.  TaL-e  this  cup.  "  Tliose  circumstances  which  constitute  the 
good  and  evil  of  human  life  are  often  represented  in  Scripture  as  the 
ingredients  of  a  cup,  which  God,  as  master  of  a  feast,  mixes  up,  and 
distributes  to  the  several  guests,  as  he  thinks  fit.  Hence,  when  our 
tSaviour  asks  iiis  disciples,  James  and  John,  whether  they  were  able  to 
drink  of  the  cup  Avhich  he  was  to  drink  of,  he  means,  whether  they 
had  resolution  and  patience  to  undergo  the  like  sufferings  and  afflic- 
tions as  his  Father  had  allotted  for  him.  Matt.  xx.  22.  And  in  the 
like  sense  he  prays,  Matt.  xxvi.  39,  '  0  my.  Father,  if  it  be  possible, 
let  this  cup  pass  from  me.'  Accordingly,  by  this  image  of  *  the  cup 
of  the  wine  of  God's  wrath,'  we  arc  to  understand  those  dreadful  and 
afflictive  judgments  which  God  was  about  to  intlict  on  the  objects  of 
liis  dis))leasure.  And  Jeremiah  the  prophet,  who  announced  them,  is 
considered  as  acting  the  part  of  a  cupbearer,  carrying  the  cup  round 
to  those  who  were  appointed  to  drink  of  it;  the  effects  of  which  were 
to  appear  in  the  intoxication,  that  is,  the  terror  and  astonishment, 
the  confusion  and  desolation,  that  should  prevail  among  them."  — 
Elayney. 

17.  So  I  took  the  cup.  "It  is  not  to  be  imagined  that  Jeremiah  went 
round  in  person  to  all  the  nations  and  kings  here  enumerated ;  but 
either  that  he  did  so  in  a  vision,  or  else  that  he  actually  did  what  is 
figuratively  designed ;  i.  e.  he  pu!)licly  announced  the  judgments  of 
God  severally  against  them."  —  Blayney. 

20.  —  allied  people ;  i.  e.  in  alliance  with  Egypt. 

24.  —  shave  the  cheek.  See  note  on  ix.  26.  This  epithet  was  prob- 
ably applied  to  various  tribes,  within  the  limits  of  what  in  modern 
times  has  been  called  Arabia.  The  name  Arabia  was  given  by  the 
Hebrews  to  a  not  very  extensive  tract  of  country  east  and  south  of 
Palestine. 

26.  Sheshach;  i.  e.  Babylon.  See  li.  41.  Why  it  is  so  called  is 
uncertain. 

34.  — like  a  goodly  vessel ;  which,  when  it  falls,  is  shattered  to  pieces, 
its  value  being  no  security  agamst  destruction. 

38. — left  his  covert;  i.  e.  he  hath  abandoned  his  temple,  where,  like 
a  lion,  he  had  thus  far  been  the  defender  of  his  people. 

XXVI.    G.—like  Shiloh.    See  note  on  vii.  12. 

7. — the  prophets.  "The  prophets  were  an  order  of  men  among  the 
Jews,  devoted  to  sacred  literature,  and  qualified  by  their  attainments 
in  religious  knowledge  to  advise  and  instruct  the  })eople,  who  came  to 
consult  them  in  cases  of  doul)t  and  difficulty.  They  ap])car  to  have 
been  trained  in  seminaries  and  schools  under  the  dlrceiion  of  some 


812  NOTES. 

prophet  eminent  for  wisdom  and  piety;  as  those  mentioned  1  Sam. 
xix.  20  were  under  Samuel,  and  those,  2  Kings  ii.  3,  vi.  1,  under  Eli- 
ijah  and  Eiisha.  That  they  were  numerous  appears  from  this  circum- 
stance, that,  when  Jezebel  slew  all  the  prophets  of  Jehovah  whom  she 
could  meet  with,  Ohadiah  hid  a  hundred  of  them  and  saved  their  lives. 
1  Kings  xviii.  4.  And  afterwards  there  appeared  no  less  than  four 
hundred  of  them  prophesying  before  Ahab  and  Jehoshaphat.  1  Kings 
xxii.  6." — Blayney, 

18. — heights  of  a  forest ;  i.  e.  the  place  where  the  temple  stood  shall 
be  desolate,  and  overgrown  with  trees. 
« 

XXVII.  1.  Zedehlah.  The  received  text  is  "Jehoiakim."  But 
from  verses  3,  12,  and  xxviii.  1,  there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  true 
reading,  though  it  is  found  in  only  one  manuscript. 

19.  —  the  pillars,  the  sea,  &c.      See  1  Kings  vii.  15,  23,  27,  &c. 

XXVIII.  16. — hast  spoheii  rebellion;  i.  e.  instigated  the  people  to 
disobedience,  by  persuading  them  to  disbelieve  the  declarations  of  a 
true  prophet  of  God. 

XXIX.  8.  — your  dreams  which  ye  cause  to  he  dreamed;  i.  e.  the 
dreams  related  to  you  by  the  prophets,  whom  ye  cause  to  dream  by 
proposing  questions  to  them  respecting  the  future,  and  giving  them 
your  contidence. 

17.  —  vilefi'js.     See  ch.  xxiv.  8-10. 

XXX.  7.  —  that  day  is  great;  i.  e.  on  account  of  calamities  and  ter- 
rors, 

9.  David,  their  king ;  i.  e.  the  Messiah,  the  illustrious  king,  the  sec- 
ond David. 

18.  — captives  of  the  tents;  i.  e.  who  once  occupied  the  habitations  of 
Judaja.  —  upon  her  heap ;  i.  e.  upon  the  ruins  of  the  old  city.  —  the  pal- 
ace. This  may  mean  the  king's  palace,  or,  as  a  collective  term,  the 
palaces  of  the  city. 

20.  —  their  congregation  shall  he  established,  &c. ;  i.  e.  the  people  shall 
not  be  again  expelleil  from  their  land. 

21.  And  their  princes,  &c. ;  i.  e.  no  foreigner  shall  be  their  ruler. — 
And  I  will  cause  them  to  approach,  &c.  I  will  show  myself  reconciled  to 
them,  the  Jewish  ])eople,  and  restore  them  to  that  nearness  to  me 
wliich  they  had  forfeited,  and  which  they  could  not  hope  to  enjoy  again, 
except  by  the  unmerited  grace  of  God.  — dare,  &c. ;  literally,  pledge  his 
heart  or  life ;  i.  e.  expose  it  to  imminent  danger. 

XXXI.  2.  —  in  the  wilderness  :  i.  e.  in  their  place  of  exile,  which,  to 
those  compelled  to  exchange  their  pleasant  homes  for  it,  was,  as  it 
were,  a  wilderness. 

3.  Jthi'iahy  &,c.,from  afar.  Here  the  people  arc  introduced  as  speak- 
ing.    Sec   ver.  -1.     The  words  "from  afar  "seem  to  imply  that  the 


JEREMIAH.  343 

people  were  on  the  watch,  anxiously  looking  to  perceive  Jehovah  com- 
ing for  their  deliverance. 

6.  —  watchmen ;  i.  e.  says  Rosenraueller,  persons  stationed  upon  the 
mountains  to  proclaim  the  festal  days,  as  in  modern  times  the  Mahom- 
etans proclaim  the  hour  of  prayer  from  towers,  &c. 

7.  —  the  head  of  the  nations;  the  Jewish  nation,  according  to  the  par- 
allelism. 

8.  —  blind  and  the  lame,  &c.  ;  i.  c.  none  shall  he  left,  not  even  those 
apparently  unfit  for  a  journey. 

9.  —  weeping ;  i.  c.  either  tears  of  penitence,  which  is  most  prohahlc 
from  the  parallelism,  or  tears  of  joy. 

15.  Ramah  was  the  name  of  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  not  far 
from  which  Rachel,  the  wife  of  Jacob  and  mother  of  Joseph  and  Ben- 
jamin, was  buried.  1  Sam.  x.  2,  3.  In  the  history  of  Rachel,  she  is 
represented  as  having  been  very  desirous  to  have  children,  and  a^ 
having  obtained  them  by  the  peculiar  favor  of  God.  By  a  beautiful 
figure  of  poetry  she  is  here  represented  as  lifting  up  her  head  from  the 
grave,  and  lamenting  bitterly  the  loss  of  her  children,  none  of  whom 
presented  themselves  to  her  view  in  her  desolated  country.  All  had 
been  slain,  or  had  gone  into  exile.  In  the  following  verse  God  con- 
soles her. 

16.  For  thy  labor,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  thou  shalt  not  have  brought  forth  and 
brought  up  children  in  vain. 

19.  I  smote,  &c.  Smiting  upon  the  thigh  was  a  sign  of  sorrow. 
See  Ezek.  xxi.  12.     Horn.  II.  XVI.  124. 

"Divine  Achilles  viewed  the  rising  flames, 
And  smote  his  thigh,  and  thus  aloud  exclaims." 

Pope's  Translation,  line  154. 

21.  Set  thee  up,  &c. ;  i.  e.  Prepare  for  thy  return. 

22.  The  ivoman  shall  protect  the  man ;  i.  e.  there  shall  be  a  state  of 
peace  and  security,  so  that  those  who  are  regarded  as  feeble  and  de- 
fenceless, and  unfit  for  war,  shall  be  competent  to  the  defence  of  the 
country.  The  business  of  defending  the  country  would  not  be  left  to 
women,  unless  in  a  state  of  the  utmost  security  from  danger. 

27.  /  will  sow,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  men  and  beasts  shall  cover  the  land,  as 
vegetables  when  seed  is  cast  into  the  ground. 

29.  The  fatliers  haoe  eaten,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  I  will  put  an  end  to  the  calami- 
ties, such  as  those  of  the  exile,  which  gave  occasion  for  the  use  of  this 
proverb- 

32.  /  rejected,  &c.  So  the  Alexandrine  copy  of  the  Sept.  and  the 
quotation  in  Heb.  viii.  9. 

35. — ordinances  of  the  moon  and  stars  ;  i.  c.  those  natural  laws  which 
regulate  their  rising,  and  their  emission  of  light. 

XXXII.    7.  —  redemption-right.     See  Lcvit.  xxv.  25. 

8.  —  inheritance.     See  Numb,  xxvii.  11. 

9.  —  seveuteeu  shekels  ;  lit.  seven  shekels  and  ten  of  silver.     De  WettQ 


SJri  NOTES. 

supposes  an  ellipsis  of  the  word  gold,  rendering  the  passage,  seven  she- 
kels of  gold,  and  ten  of  silver.  But  it  is  difficult  to  suppose  so  impor- 
tant a  word  to  have  been  omitted  by  the  writer,  especially  as  he  adds, 
that  he  weighed  the  silver.  '  Seventeen  shekels  of  silver,  less  than  nine 
dollars,  is  indeed  a  small  sum  to  be  given  for  a  piece  of  land ;  but  it  is 
uncertain  how  much  land  there  was.  Besides,  in  the  circumstances  of 
the  times,  land  must  have  been  low ;  and  the  purchaser  well  knew  that 
he  oi*  his  heirs  had  no  chance  of  entering  upon  it  till  after  the  expira- 
tion of  the  seventy  years'  captivity.  The  shekel  has  been  supposed  to 
W'Cigh  9  dwt.  3  gr.  Troy.  A  shekel  of  silver  would  be  worth  about  52 
cents. 

24.  — mounds  ;  raised  by  the  enemy,  who  have  come  against  the  city 
for  the  purpose  of  taking  it. 

29.  —  they  have  offered,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem. 

35.  ■'—to  pass  through  thejire.  It  has  been  maintained  by  some  writ- 
ers, especially  amongst  the  Jews,  from  an  excusable  regard  for  the 
credit  of  their  ancestors,  that  the  children  were  only  dedicated  to  the 
idol  deity  by  a  ceremony  in  which  fire  was  used  without  hurting  them. 
But  from  other  passages,  such  as  vii.  31  ;  xix.  5  ;  Ps.  cvi.  37  ;  2  Chron. 
xxviii.  3,  it  must  be  concluded  that  the  children  were  actually  burnt 
to  death  in  the  fire. 

41.  — in  truth ;  i.  e.  firmly,  so  that  they  shall  not  be  transferred  else- 
where. 

XXXIIT.  2.  Jehovah  is  his  name.  Here  is  an  allusion  to  the  mean- 
ing of  the  original  word,  according  to  the  derivation  assigned  to  it  by 
tlie  Jews,  viz.  the  Unchangeable,  lie  ivho  always  ivill  he  what  he  now  is. 
See  Ges.  Lex.  ad  verb.  It  is  intimated  that  his  promises  are  sure  ; 
that  he  will  be  the  same  in  performing  that  he  is  in  promising. 

6. — peace  and  stability;  i.  e.,  by  hendiadys,  stable,  sure  peace  or 
prosperity. 

9.  — J'ear  and  tremble ;  i.  e.  shall  stand  in  awe  of  the  Jewish  na- 
Sfbn. 

12.  — shepherds,  ivho  shall  cause  thfirjloclcs  to  rest.  It  is  not  improbable 
that  this  language  is  to  he  understood  figuratively,  denoting  good  rulers, 
promoting  the  happiness  of  their  subjects. 

If).  Jehovah-is- our-sal  vat  ion  ;  i.  e.  Jehovah  is  the  author  of  our  deliv- 
erance, safety,  and  prosperity.  See  note  on  xxiii.  6.  Commentators 
have  labored  in  vain  to  show  that  the  feminine  Hebrew  pronoun  may 
be  rendered  he  or  him.  In  Ezekiel  xlviii.  35,  Jerusalem  is  called  Jelio- 
vah-is-there. 

21. — covenant  with  David.      See  1  Kings  ii.  4,  viii.  25. 

24.  —  two  families  ;  i.  e.  the  royal  and  sacerdotal  families  of  David 
and  Levi ;  or,  as  some  suppose,  the  two  kingdoms  of  Israel  and 
Judah. 

XXXIV.  5.  — burn  for  thee;  viz.  various  kinds  of  spices  to  his  hon- 
or.    See  2  Chron.  xvi.  14,  xxi.   ID.     Others  render  the  passage,  "  As 


J  E  R  E  xM  I  A  H  .  345 

tliy  fathers  .  .  .  were  burncfl,  so  shall  they  burn  thee."  Eiit  it  is 
not  said  that  they  shall  burn  him,  but  for  or  to  him  ;  i.  e.  to  his 
honor.     See  Kosenmueller  on  Amos  vi.  10. 

8.  —  to  proclaim  liberty  to  them.  By  the  law  of  Moses,  (Exod.  xxi.  2, 
Deut.  XV.  12,)  the  Israelites  were  not  allowed  to  detain  their  brethren 
of  the  Hebrew  raee  in  perpetual  bondage,  but  were  retiiiired  to  let  them 
go  free  after  havinj^  served  six  years.  This  law  had,  it  seems,  fallen 
into  disuse  ;  but  King  Zedekiah,  upon  the  approach  of  the  Chaldiean 
army,  Avhether  from  religious  motives,  or  with  a  political  view  to  employ 
the  men  who  were  set  free  in  the  service  of  the  war,  engaged  the  peo- 
ple in  a  covenant  to  act  conformably  to  the  law ;  and  they  released 
their  brethren  accordingly.  But  no  sooner  were  their  fears  abated  by 
the  retreat  of  the  Chakkeans,  than,  in  defiance  of  every  principle  of 
religion,  honor,  and  humanity,  they  imposed  the  yoke  of  sei'vitude 
anew  upon  those  unhappy  persons.     Blayney. 

18.  —  lohivh  they  cut  in  twain,  &c.  In  order  to  ratify  a  covenant,  the 
Hebrews  used  to  kill  a  calf,  or  some  other  animal,  or  several  at  the 
same  time,  which  they  cut  in  two,  and,  placing  the  parts  at  some  dis- 
tance from  each  other,  they  passed  between  them  ;  intending  to  signify 
by  this  rite,  that  they  consented  to  be  treated  in  a  similar  manner  iu 
case  they  broke  the  covenant.  We  find  God  himself  conforming  to 
this  usage,  the  emblem  of  his  presence  passing  through  the  parts  of 
the  divided  animals  when  he  made  a  covenant  with  Abraham.  Gen. 
XV.  9,  i&c.  Something  similar  was  practised  among  the  Greeks  and 
Romans.  See  Horn.  II.  III.  292 ;  Livy,  I.  25.  Also  Jahn's  Archaeol- 
ogy, §  383. 

XXXV.  2. — Rechahites.  They  were  strangers,  not  of  the  race  of 
Israel.  By  a  more  general  appellation  they  were  called  Kenites. 
1  Chron.  ii.  55.  They  were  probably  descendants  of  Jethro,  the  father- 
in-law  of  Moses,  (Judg.  i.  16,)  who,  when  he  had  embraced  the  Jewish 
religion,  (Ex.  xviii.  9,  &c.,)  either  remained  with  the  Israelites,  or  after- 
wards joined  them  with  his  family.  His  posterity  were  afterwards 
divided  into  two  brnnclies  ;  one  of  which  settled  in  Kedesh,  in  the 
tribe  of  Naphtali  (Judg.  iv.  11,  17),  and  the  other  in  the  tribe  of  Judah 
(Judg.  i.  16),  on  the  borders  of  the  Amalekites  (1  Sam.  xv.  6),  of  whom 
are  the  Rechabites  mentioned  iu  this  passage. 

4.  —  man  of  God;  i.  e.  a  prophet. 

7. — live  long  in  the  land,  &c.  These  words  seem  to  indicate  the 
main  purpose  of  the  regulations  of  Jonadab,  the  son  of  Rechab,  which 
he  enjoined  upon  his  descendants.  The  observance  of  his  regulations 
would,  as  he  supposed,  keep  them  on  good  terms  with  the  Jews,  as 
they  would  have  fewer  possessions  to  excite  the  envy  and  cupidity  of 
those  among  whom  they  lived  as  strangers,  and  would  possess  more 
self-command,  and  more  caution  in  avoiding  quarrels. 

19. — to  stand  before    me.     It    may  be  doubted   whether    anything 
more  than  the  perpetuity  of  the  family  is  intended.      See  Is.  Ixvi.  22. 
15* 


8-13  NOTES. 

XXXVI.  17.  —  hoio  didst  thou  write,  &c.  They  probably  had 
formed  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  roll,  and  wished  to  know 
whether  there  was  another  copy  in  existence,  whether  he  had  written 
from  a  copy  oi  Jeremiah's,  or  at  his  dictation.  Baruch  answers,  "  He 
pronounced  to  me  all  these  words,"  Sac. 

22.  —  ninth  month  :  corresponding  to  a  part  of  our  December,  when 
in  Palestine  there  is  often  snow  upon  the  ground,  though  it  does  not 
last  long.  — brasier ;  i.  e.  a  fire-pan,  or  pot.  The  houses  of  the  Jews 
Avere  warmed,  not  by  means  of  chimneys,  or  stoves,  as  with  us,  but  by 
means  of  brasiers,  or  pans  of  coals  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  room. 
This  practice  still  prevails  in  many  countries  of  the  East. 

XXXVII.  4.  — came  in  and  went  out ;  i.  e.  was  at  liberty,  was  not 
confined.     See  Josh.  vi.  1. 

21.  —  the  bakers'  street;  i.  e.  from  the  shops  of  the  bakers,  at  the 
king's  expense. 

XXXVIII.  5.  — that  can  do  anything.  This  is  not  to  be  understood 
in  a  legal  or  literal  sense.  It  is  rather  the  language  of  an  imbecile 
monarch,  complaining  that  it  was  of  no  use  for  him  to  try  to  resist 
the  obstinate  and  repeated  importunities  of  his  counsellors  and  court- 
iers. 

7. — the  gate  of  Benjamin.  No  doubt  he  was  sitting  there  to  hear 
complaints,  and  to  administer  justice  ;  the  courts  being  usually  held 
ia  the  gates  of  cities  in  the  East. 

16.  —  made  for  us  this  soul ;  i.  e.  that  gave  us  life. 

XL.  4.  /  will  set  my  eyes  upon  thee ;  i.  c.  I  will  provide  for  your 
safety.     I  will  protect  you. 

10.  —  to  stand  before  the  Chaldceans,  &c. ;  i.  e.  to  be  ready  to  receive 
and  obey  the  commands  of  the  ambassadors  of  the  king  of  Babylon. 

XLI.  5.  —  beards  sliavcn,  — clothes  rent,  — cut  themselves.  These  signs 
of  deep  mourning  seem  to  have  been  manifested  on  account  of  the  ca- 
lamity which  had  befallen  the  city  and  the  temple.  Cutting  the  flesh 
as  a  sign  of  grief  was  forbidden  in  the  law,  but  was  retained  by  the  force 
of  custom.     See  Lev.  xix.  28. 

XLIII.  7.  Tahpanhes.  Called  by  the  Greeks  Daphne,  a  strong 
city  near  Pclusium.  It  was  here,  as  tradition  states,  that  Jeremiah 
was  stoned  by  his  countrymen. 

12.  —  wrap  himself;  i.  e.  change  and  destroy  the  whole  face  of  the 
land.  Comp.  in  Is.  xxxiv.  4,  the  metaphor  of  the  heavens  being 
rolled  together,  liosenmueller,  less  conformably  to  usage,  understands 
it,  He  shall  clothe  the  land  of  Egypt ;  i.  e.  cover  it  with  his  forces.  — gar- 
ment ;  i.  e.  the  outer  flowing  garment  of  the  Orientals. 

13.  Bethshemesh.  A  name  ^hj;mi\hv^  house,  or  habitation,  of  (he  suu  ; 
and  given  to  the  city  by  the  Hebrews,  probably  as  a  translatiuu  of  the 


JEREMIAH.  317 

Egyplian  name,  On.  It  was  called  by  the  Greeks  HcliopoHs,  i.  e.  city 
of  the  sun,  and  by  the  Arabs,  fountain  of  the  sun.  The  city  stood  on 
the  eastern  bank  of  the  Nile,  a  few  miles  north  of  Memphis,  and  wa^- 
celebrated  for  the  temple  and  worship  of  the  sun,  and  for  its  obelisks, 
some  of  which  remain  to  the  present  day.  The  ruins  of  the  ancient 
city  are  still  called  Ain  Shems,  "  fountain  of  the  sun,"  in  the  adja- 
cent modern  villaj^e  of  Matariyeli.     See  Ges.  Lex.,  p.  24. 

XLIV.  1.  Migdol,  a  city  of  Lower  Egypt,  at  the  northern  extrem- 
ity. —  Noph ;  i.  e.  Memphis,  once  the  capital  of  Egypt,  whose  ruins, 
though  of  small  extent,  are  found  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Nile,  south 
of  old  Cairo. 

17.  — queen  of  heaven.  Either  the  moon,  or  the  planet  Venus,  the 
same  with  Astarte. 

XLV.  5. — great  things  for  thyself?  i.  e.  Do  you,  in  the  midst  of 
such  a  terrible  and  general  calamity,  expect  peace  and  quietness  and 
felicity  1 

XL VI.    9.    Lijdians  :  here  a  people  of  Africa. 

10. — a  sacrijice ;  i.  e.  the  enemies  that  were  destroyed. 

17. — the  appointed  time;  i.  e.  the  time  fixed  by  himself,  and  per- 
haps boasted  of,  when  he  would  go  out  and  tight  with  the  Chaldteans. 

18. — he  Cometh;  i.  e.  the  king  of  Babylon.  Tabor  and  Carmel 
were  two  of  the  most  considerable  mountains  in  the  land  of  Israel. 
Carmel  formed  the  principal  headland  all  along  the  sea-coast.  Nebu- 
chadnezzar is  compared  to  these  on  account  of  his  superiority  over  all 
others. 

20.  —  a  fair  heifer;  i,  e.  in  a  thriving  condition,  like  a  heifer  well 
fed  and  fat ;  but  she  is  fatted  for  slaughter  ;  for,  &c. 

22.  —  like  that  of  a  serpent.  The  cries  of  the  Egyptians  seem  to  be 
compared  to  that  of  a  serpent,  when  he  flees  terrified  at  seeing  the 
woodcutters  approach  with  their  axes  to  his  lurking-place. 

23.  — her  forest ;  i.  e.  her  cities,  villages,  habitations. 

25.  —  punish  Amnion  of  No.  Respecting  the  city  No,  or  ancient 
Thebes,  see  note  on  Nahum  iii.  8.  Amnion  was  the  principal  Egyp- 
tian deity,  called  Ammon  of  No  or  Thebes,  because  that  city  was  the 
seat  of  his  celebrated  temple.  He  is  in  the  classics  called  Jupiter 
Ammon,  or  the  Theban  Jupiter.  When  a  country  is  destroyed,  God  is 
said  in  the  Scriptures  to  infiict  punishment  on  the  gods  or  idols  of  the 
country.     See  xliii.  12,  13  ;  Is.  xix.  1  ;  and  the  note  on  Is.  xlvi.  1. 

XL VII.  2.  —  waters  rise  up  ;  i.  e.  the  great,  overpowering  army  of 
the  Chaldaeans. 

5.  Baldness  is  come,  &c. ;  i.  e.  she  is  i\x  great  affliction,  expressed 
by  shaving  oft'  the  hair.      See  xlviii.  37. 

XIA'III.    1.    Concerning  Moah.     Comp.  Is.  xv.,  xvi. 


PAS  NOTES. 

7.   Chemosh  ;  i.  e.  the  national  god  of  the  Moabites. 

11.  —  settled  on  his  lees.  The  original  word  for  lees  signifies  the  p't 
servers;  because  the  lees  were  supposed  to  preserve  the  color,  flavor, 
and  strength  of  the  wine.  Bishop  Lowth,  in  his  note  on  Is.  xxv.  6, 
quotes  the  following  passage  from  Sir  Edward  Barry's  Observations 
on  the  wines  of  the  ancients.  "  All  recent  wines,  after  the  fermentation 
has  ceased,  ought  to  be  kept  on  their  lees  for  a  certain  time ;  which 
greatly  contributes  to  increase  their  strength  and  flavor.  AVhenever 
this  first  fermentation  has  been  deficient,  they  will  retain  a  more  rich 
and  sweet  taste  than  is  natural  to  them  in  a  recent  true  vinous  state ; 
and  unless  farther  fermentation  is  promoted  by  their  lying  longer  on 
their  own  lees,  they  will  never  attain  their  genuine  strength  and  flavor, 
but  run  into  repeated  and  ineflectual  fermentations,  and  soon  degener- 
ate into  a  liquor  of  an  acetous  kind."  By  the  figure  of  being  settled  on 
the  lees  is  denoted  that  Moab  had  enjoyed  great  prosperity,  as  well  as 
tranciuillity,  in  consequence  of  her  freedom  from  foreign  wars. 

12.  — tillers,  &c.  Here  I  am  obliged  to  have  recourse  to  a  word  not 
much  in  use.  To  tilt,  says  Bailey,  is  to  raise  a  cask  of  beer  that  is 
near  out,  —  to  set  it  stooping.  Undoubtedly  this  is  the  meaning. 
Moab,  which  in  the  preceding  verse  is  represented  as  a  cask  of  good 
old  wine,  is  here  represented  as  set  up  on  end  in  order  to  be  wholly 
drained. 

13.  Chemosh ;  i.  c.  of  having  trusted  to  their  idol  Chemosh.  —  Beth- 
el; i.  c.  where  was  the  golden  calf  set  up  by  Jeroboam,  as  an  object  of 
worship.      1  Kings  xii.  29. 

18. — sit  in  thirst;  i.  e.  in  a  dry  and  parched  ])hice.  The  expression 
in  thirst  is  emphatic,  as  Dibon  was  renuirkable  lor  its  waters.  See  Is. 
XV.  9,  where  it  is  written  Dimon. 

31.  Therefor^  will  I  wail  for  Moab.  It  has  been  observed  by  Schnur- 
rer,  that  this  lamentation  for  Moab  is  not  in  unison  with  the  language 
of  Jeremiah,  or  the  Jewish  pro])hets  generally,  when  they  speak  of  for- 
eign nations,  especially  of  those  which  have  been  very  hostile  to  them. 
Hence  he  supposes  that  it  is  the  language  of  the  Moabites ;  some  such 
words  as  theij  shall  sai/  being  understood.     But  this  is  uncertain. 

30. — sound  nice  a  flute ;  lit.  like  Jliites  or  />/;>es.  Forster  relates, 
says  Gesenius,  that  the  natives  of  some  of  the  islands  in  the  Pacific 
call  pity  "  the  barking  of  the  bowels." 

44.  TJie  year  of  their  punishment.  This  seems  to  denote  simply  the 
time  when  they  shall  be  punished. 

45.  —  sons  of  tumult;  i.  e.  the  tumultuous  warriors  of  Moab. 

XLIX.  1.  —  Milcom  inherit  Gad.  Milcom  was  the  chief  deity  of  the 
Ammonites,  elsewhere  called  Moloch.  See  note  on  xix.  6.  According 
to  the  Rabbins,  its  statue  was  of  brass,  having  the  members  of  the  hu- 
man body,  but  the  head  of  an  ox ;  it  was  hollow  within,  was  heated 
from  below,  and  the  children  to  be  immolated  were  placed  in  its  arms. 
A  similar  description  is  given  of  the  statue  of  Stiturn  among  the  Car- 
thaginians by  Diodorus  Sic.  20.  14.     Both  the  Moloch  of  the  Ammon- 


JEREMIAH.  349 

ites  and  the  Saturn  of  the  Carthaginians  represent  the  planet  Saturn, 
which  the  Semitic  nations  appeased  with  human  victims,  as  an  evil 
demon.     See  Ges.  ad  verb. 

3.  —  fences;  i.  e.  vineyard  fences.  —  For  Milconi  goeth  into  captivity. 
See  xlviii.  7,  and  note  on  xlvi.  25. 

7.  Teman,  a  city  and  district  in  the  east  of  IdumJBa,  or  Edom,  so 
called  from  Teman,  the  grandson  of  Esau.  Its  inhabitants  were  famed 
for  their  wisdom. 

8.  Dwell  in  deep  places ;  i.  e.  retire  into  caverns,  and  hide  yourselves 
from  the  enemy.  — Dedan  ;  i.  e.  a  city  or  district  of  Idumtta.  The 
following  description  by  Seetzen  of  the  habitations  near  Draa,  the 
ancient  Edrei,  Josh.  xiii.  31,  illustrates  the  passage ;  as  there  can 
be  no  doubt  that  similar  habitations  are  referred  to  by  the  prophet. 
"  The  district  of  El  Botthin  contains  many  thousand  caverns  made  in 
rocks  by  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  the  country.  Most  of  the  houses, 
even  in  these  villages,  which  are  yet  inhabited,  are  a  kind  of  grotto, 
composed  of  walls  placed  against  the  projecting  points  of  the  rocks,  in 
such  a  manner  that  the  walls  of  the  inner  chamber,  in  which  the  in- 
habitants live,  are  partly  of  bare  rock,  and  partly  of  mason-work.  Be- 
sides these  retreats,  there  are  in  this  neighborhood  a  number  of  very 
large  caverns,  the  construction  of  which  must  have  cost  inlinite  labor, 
since  they  are  formed  in  the  hard  rock.  There  is  only  one  door  of  en- 
trance, wiiich  is  so  regularly  fitted  into  the  rock,  that  it  shuts  like  the 
door  of  a  house.  It  appears  then  that  this  country  was  formerly  inhab- 
ited by  troglodytes There  are  still  to  be  found  many  families 

living  in  caverns,  sufficiently  spacious  to  contain  them  and  all  their 
cattle.  These  immense  cavei'ns  are  moreover  to  be  found,  in  consider- 
able numbers,  in  the  district  of  Al-Jedur,  some  leagues  to  the  southward 
of  M'kess,  where  also  we  met  with  several  families  of  the  troglodytes." 
See  note  on  Obad.  3  ;   also  Robinson's  Calmet,  p.  236. 

12. — they  who  ought  not,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  the  Jews,  the  peculiar  people  of 
God,  less  deserving  of  punishment  than  the  Edomites. 

13.    Bozrah:  one  of  the  chief  cities  of  the  Edomites. 

19.  — pride  of  Jordan ;  i.  e.  the  forests  on  the  banks  of  Jordan.  See 
xii.  5.  — the  shepherd;  i.  e.  the  leader,  commander;  the  land  of  Edom 
being  regarded  as  a  sheepfold,  and  the  people  as  a  flock. 

25.  —  left ;  i.  e.  why  doth  it  not  remain  1  The  inhabitants  of  Da- 
mascus are  represented  as  speaking,  they  say  being  understood.  They 
are  represented  as  being  so  much  attached  to  their  celebrated  city  as 
scarcely  to  believe  its  destruction  possible. 

28.    Kedar  and  Hazor,  in  Arabia. 

31.  — dwelleth  alone;  i.  e.  they  do  not  live  in  cities,  towns,  or  villages, 
where  the  houses  are  contiguous  ;  but  each  family  has  its  mansion 
apart  from  the  rest,  Avith  land  about  it  sufiicient  for  the  subsistence  of 
their  cattle.  The  circumstance  seems  to  be  mentioned  here  as  evidence 
of  their  fearless  security. 

34.  Elani :  a  province  of  Persia,  or  perhaps,  here,  the  whole 
of  it. 


boU  NOTES. 

36.   The  four  winds;  i.  e.  enemies  from  every  quarter  of  the  earth. 

38.  /  will  set  up  my  throne  in  Elam.  This  may  mean,  that  God 
would  erect  his  judgment-seat  in  Elam,  and  decree  punishment,  &c. 
Or  my  throne  may  denote  the  throne  of  my  appointment,  the  throne  of 
him  who  is  commissioned  by  me  for  the  conquest  of  Elam. 

L. -LI.  There  are  some  reasons,  though  not  very  conclusive,  for 
supposing  that  chapters  L.  and  LI.  were  written  at  a  later  period  in 
the  captivity  than  that  in  which  Jeremiah  could  have  written  them. 

L.  2. — a  standard ;  i.e.  a  signal  to  call  people  together  to  hear 
the  tidings.  —  Bel.  See  on  Is.  xlvi.  \.  —  Merodach:  an  idol  of  the 
Babylonians,  probably  repi'esenting  the  planet  Mars,  to  which,  as  the 
god  of  slaughter  and  blood,  the  ancient  Semitic  nations  offered  human 
sacrifices. 

4.  — weeping  on  their  way.     See  note  on  xxxi.  9. 

H.  —  thrashing  heifer:  whose  mouth  not  being  muzzled  while  it  was 
thrashing,  or  treading  out  the  grain,  it  fed  freely  and  became  wanton. 

12.    Your  mother;  i.  e.  Babylon,  the  metropolis,  mother-city. 

15.  She  reacheth  forth  her  hand:  as  it  were  to  be  bound;  i.  e.  she 
yields,  surrenders.  See  Lam.  v.  6.  In  2  Chron.  xxx.  8,  what  is 
translated  in  the  common  version  yield  yourselves  unto  the  Lord,  is  in  the 
original  give  the  hand  to  the  Lord. 

16.  Tliey  shall  turn;  i.  c.  the  auxiliaries  of  Babylon. 

21.  —  land  of  Rebellion ;  i.  e.  rebellious  against  Jehovah  by  her  idol- 
atry and  ])ride.  —  inhabitants  of  Vengeance ;  i.  e.  upon  whom  vengeance 
is  to  be  inflicted. 

27. — bullocks;  i.  e.  princes,  great  men. 

36.  —  and  they  shall  be  fools  ;  i.  e.  events  contrary  to  their  predictions 
shall  manifest  them  to  be  such. 

41-43. — a  nation;  i.  e.  the  Medes.  The  threatenings  in  these 
verses  are,  in  ch.  vi.  22  -  24,  directed  against  Jerusalem. 

44-46.  See  ch.  xlix.  19  -21,  where  the  same  language  is  directed 
against  Edom.  —  Suddenly  will  I  drive  them ;  lit.  /  will  wink,  I  will 
drive  them.  By  "  them  "  are  to  be  understood  the  Babylonians,  the 
occupants  of  the  habitation  of  the  rock ;  i.  e.  the  strong  habitation. 
Comp.  ver.  45. 

LI.  7.  — golden  cup;  i.  e.  for  inebriating  the  nations  with  calamity  ; 
a  splendid  instrument  of  Jehovah  for  inflicting  punishment  npon  the 
nations.     See  note  on  xxv.  15. 

12.  Against  the  walls,  &c.  This  address  is  mode,  not  to  the  Babylo- 
nians, as  the  common  version  supposes,  but  rather  to  the  enemies  of 
Babylon. 

13. — great  waters;  i.  e.  the  Euphrates,  which  passed  through  it, 
and  its  branches  or  canals,  which  surrounded  it. 

15-19.      See  ch.  x.  12-16. 

20.  —  my  battle-hammer.     From  the  use  of  the  battle-hammer  or'mal- 


JEREMIAH.  351 

let,  Judas  received  the  name  of  Maccabeus,  and  Charles,  the  Duke  of 
France,  famous  for  his  victories  over  the  Saracens,  that  of  Martellas, 
i.  e.  the  Battle-hammer.  Such  an  instrument  is  called  by  the  Arabs 
Dei-hasch,  according  to  Niebuhr,  Tom.  11.  p.  200.  From  the  use  of 
such  a  Aveapon,  Lat.  malleus,  came  the  word  maul. 

25.  — destroying  mountain.  Babylon  seems  to  be  here  compared  to  a 
Nolcanic  mountain,  which  has  scattered  destruction  far  and  wide. 
The  prophet  threatens  that  she  shall  be  burnt  out,  or  become  like  one 
of  those  desolate  mountains  of  which  the  tires  have  ceased  to  burn,  and 
the  materials  of  which  have  become  useless,  like  cooled  lava,  so  that 
they  are  wholly  deserted  by  men. 

27.  Ararat,  Minni:  provinces  of  Armenia.  —  Ashchenaz:  probably 
near  Armenia,  if  not  a  province  of  it.  — bristled  locusts.  See  Joeli.  4 
and  ii.  4,  and  the  notes.  The  horses  may  be  compared  to  the  locusts 
on  account  of  their  numbers,  as  well  as  their  general  appearance,  and  to 
the  bristled  locust,  on  account  of  the  spears  and  javelins  of  their  riders. 

31.  Courier-  runs,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  They  shall  run  from  different  parts, 
and  so  fall  in  with  one  another,  all  carrying  the  same  intelligence  to 
the  same  person,  that  the  city  was  taken  on  the  side  every  one  came 
from.  Herodotus  tells  us,  that,  on  account  of  the  greatness  of  the  city, 
the  extreme  parts  of  it  were  taken  some  time  licfore  those  who  lived  in 
the  middle  knew  of  the  attack.     Lib.  I.  c.  191. 

32. — passages;  i.  e.  the  fords,  together  with  the  fortifications,  to 
prevent  the  enemy  from  crossing  the  river.  — reeds;  i.  e.  the  reeds 
upon  the  marshes,  which  might  prevent  the  access  of  the  enemy, 

33.  — thrashing -floor  when  it  is  thrashed ;  i.  e.  when  it  is  trampled  upon 
by  cattle  and  bruised  by  the  thrashing-wain.  See  Is.  xxi.  10.  Others 
suppose  the  meaning  to  be,  that  Babylon  is  full  of  wealth,  as  a  thrash- 
ing-floor is  full  of  grain  in  the  time  of  thrashing  ;  but  that  in  a  short 
time  her  prosperity  should  be  cut  down,  like  the  harvest  when  it  is 
fully  ripe. 

36. — her  sea  ;  i.  e.  the  Euphrates  and  its  channels.  The  term  sea 
is  applied  to  large  rivers  by  the  Orientals. 

39.  In  their  heat;  i.  e.  while  they  are  heated  with  wine;  I  will 
prepare  them  a  drink,  viz.  the  wine  of  the  Divine  indignation.  See 
XXV.  15. 

41.  Sheshach.    See  note  on  xxv.  26. 

42.  The  sea,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  a  numerous  army  hath  come  up  against  Bab- 
ylon, like  the  sea,  and  overwhelmed  her.  See  ver.  55.  Others  under- 
stand the  language  literally,  viz.  that  Babylon  should  be  overflowed  by 
the  Euphrates.  A  large  collection  of  waters,  such  as  the  Nile,  the  Eu- 
phrates, is  often  called  a  sea  in  the  Scriptures. 

44. — bring  forth  from  his  mouth,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  the  riches  of  his  temple, 
the  offerings  that  had  been  made  him  from  the  spoils  of  conquered 
countries,  and  particularly  the  sacred  vessels  of  the  temple  of  Jerusa- 
lem, which  Nebuchadnezzar  had  placed  in  the  temple  of  his  god.  See 
2  Chron.  xxxvi.  7. 

53.  —  mount  up,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  in  the  height  of  her  walls.    — height  of  lief 


352  NOTES. 

strength ;  i.  e.  her  high  fortifications.  Herodotus  relates  that  the  walla 
of  Babylon  were  two  hundred  cubits  high  and  fifty  cubits  broad.  Ac- 
cording to  him  the  city  was  a  regular  square,  each  side  of  which  was 
one  hundred  and  twenty  stadia  in  length. 

55.  Their  leaves,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  the  enemies  of  Babylon  shall  rush  in  and 
roar  like  the  waves  of  the  sea  dashing  against  the  shore. 

57. — viake  drunk.     See  note  on  ver.  39. 

64.  So  shall  Babylon  sink.  Herodotus  relates  a  similar  action  of  the 
Phocagans,  who,  having  resolved  to  leave  their  country,  and  never  to 
return  to  it  again,  "  threw  a  mass  of  iron  into  the  sea,  and  swore  that 
they  would  never  return  to  Phocaea  till  that  iron  mass  should  rise  and 
swim  on  the  top."  Herod.  I.  165.  See  also  Hor.  Epod.  XVI.  25. 
—  utterly  fail ;  i.  e.  the  Babylonians  shall  be  exhausted,  so  as  never  to 
recover  their  strength. 

LII.  It  ought  to  he  considered  as  certain,  says  Grotius,  that  this 
chapter  was  not  here  inserted  by  Jeremiah.  For  he  would  not  have  re- 
peated a  history  before  related  in  the  same  book,  ch.  xxxix.,  xl.,  and 
in  its  proper  place.  Besides,  this  history  is  continued  to  the  reign  of 
Evil-merodach,  and  to  the  death  of  Jeconiah,  a  period  later  than  that  of 
Jeremiah.  It  cannot,  therefore,  be  doubted,  that  the  chiefs  of  the  cap- 
tivity, as  they  were  called,  wrote  this  chapter,  that  it  might  form  an 
introduction  to  the  Lamentations  of  Jeremiah,  which  usually  followed 
the  prophecies  of  Jeremiah.  Por  the  subject  of  the  Lamentations  is 
contained  in  this  chapter,  which  is  almost  wholly  borrowed  from  the 
latter  part  of  the  Second  Book  of  Kings,  a  few  things  being  added  from 
the  history  of  Solomon's  temple.     See  2  Kings  xxiv.,  xxv. 


NOTES    ON    LAMENTATIONS. 

There  is  no  sufficient  reason  for  doubting  that  the  Lamentations 
arc  the  productions  of  Jeremiah,  though  in  regard  to  their  form  they 
have  a  more  artificial  character  than  his  prophecies,  which  at  first  view 
suggests  the  suspicion  that  they  were  Avritten  by  an  imitator  of  Jere- 
miah, who  had  not  gone  through  the  calamities  which  he  describes  and 
laments.  He  may  have  employed  his  leisure  in  writing  them  during 
his  exile  in  Egypt. 

Each  of  the  five  chapters  of  the  Lamentations  contains  a  distinct 
elegy,  consisting  of  twenty-two  periods,  according  to  the  number  of 
letters  in  the  Hebrew  alphabet.  And  in  the  first  four  chapters  the  ver- 
sification resembles  acrostics.  In  the  first  three  chapters  each  verse 
consists  of  three  lines,  and  the  initial  letters  of  each  verse  are  in  the 


LAMENTATIONS.  353 

order  of  the  Hebrew  alphabet,  with  the  exception  that  i.  7  and  ii.  19 
consist  of  four  lines.  There  is  also  an  exception  to  the  alphabetical 
oi-der,  viz.  that  in  chapters-  ii.,  iii.,  and  iv.  Pe  is  put  before  Aijin.  The 
third  chapter  ditFers  from  the  others  in  having  each  line  begin  with 
the  same  letter,  so  that  the  alphabet  is  repeated  three  times.  The  pe- 
culiarity of  the  fourth  chapter  is,  that  each  verse  consists  of  only  two 
lines.  In  the  translation,  I  have,  for  convenience'  sake,  made  the  lines 
of  some  of  the  verses  more  numerous.  The  iifth  chapter  is  not  acros- 
tic. It  contains  verses  equal  in  number  to  the  letters  of  the  Hebi-ew 
alphabet,  and  the  lines  are  quite  short,  whereas  in  the  rest  they  are 
long. 

It  is  singular  that  any  man  of  learning,  who  had  read  these  lamen- 
tations of  the  prophet  over  his  country's  calamities  and  his  own,  should 
have  supposed  them  to  be  elegies  relating  to  the  death  of  the  good 
King  Josiah.  There  is  no  allusion  to  the  life  or  death  of  Josiah  in 
either  of  them.  If  Jeremiah  composed  an  elegy  upon  his  death,  as  is 
intimated  in  2  Chron.  xxxv.  25,  it  is  lost. 

I.  1. — sit  solitanj.  Jerusalem  may  by  these  words  be  represented 
as  a  mourner  seeking  solitude  and  in  the  attitude  of  grief;  or  by  "  soli- 
tary "  may  be  meant  "  desolate,"  as  a  mother  bereaved  of  hor  children. 
There  are  several  Roman  coins  extant,  repi'csenting  on  l^ie  one  side  the 
Emperor  Vespasian,  and  on  the  other,  a  woman,  (the  daughter  of  Zion,) 
sitting  upon  the  ground  under  a  palm-tree,  in  a  mournful  attitude,  and 
having  around  a  heap  of  arras,  shields,  &c.  The  legend  is  Jud^a 
Capta,  —  "Judaja  taken."  See  Robinson's  Calmet,  p.  584.  — tribu- 
tary, or  obliged  to  pay  tribute-service.  This  is  the  common  meaning 
of  the  word. 

2. «—  her  lovers ;  i.  e.  the  nations  with  which  she  had  formed  alli- 
ances. 

3.  — goeth  into  exile.  I  am  inclined  to  think,  with  Michaelis,  Blay- 
ney,  and  others,  that  it  was  a  voluntary  migration  of  the  Jews  that  is 
here  intended ;  many  of  whom,  previous  to  the  captivity,  had  left  their 
country,  and  retired  into  Egypt  and  other  parts,  to  avoid  the  oppres- 
sion and  servitude  which  they  had  reason  to  apprehend  from  the 
Chaldeeans,  who  had  invaded,  or  were  about  to  invade,  their  country. 
—  in  the  straits;  i.  e.  narrow  passages,  where  there  is  no  room  to  turn, 
to  the  right  or  left,  no  chance  to  escape.  The  expression  is  to  be 
understood  metaphorically,  as  denoting  great  distress. 

4.  27/6  ways  to  Zion;  i.  e.  the  ways  which  lead  to  Zion,  once 
rejoicing  in  the  multitude  that  passed  over  them  to  keep  holy  day, 
mourn  because  none  pass  over  them. 

5.  —  the  head;  i.  e.  her  superiors.      See  Deut.  xxviii.  13,  44. 
8.  — her  shame.      See  Is.  xlvii.  3  ;  Ezek.  xvi.  37. 

9. — Jierend;  i.e.  she  thought  not  of  the  miserable  end  to  which 
her  wickedness  would  bring  her. 

14.  The  yoke,  &,c.  A  metaphor  drawn  from  the  practice  of  a 
husbandman,  who,  after  fastening  the  yoke  upon  the  cattle,  keeps  the 


354  NOTES. 

cords  wound  round  his  hand.  So  she  says  the  yoke  of  his  transgres- 
sions, i.  e.  the  consequences  of  them,  is  fastened  upon  her  neck,  and 
the  cords  connected  with  it  wound  round  the  hand  of  God,  so  that  she 
could  not  throw  it  off.  — they  are  twisted  together ;  i.  e.  in  their  conse- 
quences, or  punishment,  my  sins  are  formed,  like  ropes  or  other  ma- 
terials, into  a  yoke  which  is  insupportable. 

19.  —  my  lovers;  i.  e.  those  whose  alliance  I  had  sought,  the  Egyp- 
tians and  others.     See  iv.  17. 

20.  —  turneth  itself;  i.  e.  is  vehemently  agitated,  cannot  rest.  — Death; 
i.  e.  natural  death  by  famine  or  pestilence.  A  personification.  See 
Jer.  ix.  21  ;  Hab.  ii.  5. 

"  Despair 
Tended  the  sick,  busiest  from  couch  to  couch  ; 
And  over  them  triumphant  Death  his  dart 
Shook." 

Par.  Lost,  XI.  489. 

II.  1.  —  cov&'ed  with  a  cloud;  i.  e.  degraded  ;  treated  with  indig- 
nity. —  his  footstool.  The  ark  of  the  covenant  is  called  God's  footstool, 
1  Chron.  xxviii.  2 ;  Ps.  xcix.  5  ;  and  for  this  obvious  reason,  that 
when  the  glory  of  God  appeared  sitting  as  it  were  enthroned  upon  the 
mercy-seat,  between  the  cherubim,  the  ark  below  was,  as  it  were,  a 
base,  or  footstool  to  the  throne.  {Blayney.)  Perhaps,  however,  the 
whole  temple,  the  peculiar  dwelling-place  of  Jehovah  and  the  I'ccepta- 
cle  of  the  ark,  is  intended. 

3.  — eva-y  horn;  i.  e.  all  her  means  of  defence. 

7.  They  Itave  lifted  up;  i.  e.  the  enemies  triumphed  in  the  desola- 
tion of  the  temple,  with  as  loud  a  noise  as  the  people  were  wont  to 
make  in  celebrating  the  praises  of  God  on  a  solenm  festival.  Comp. 
Ps.  Ixxiv.  4. 

8.  — the  line ;  i.  e.  a  line  of  destruction.  See  Is.  xxxiv.  11,  and  the 
note. 

11.  My  liver,  &c.  The  liver  is  here  regarded  as  the  seat  of  the 
feelings,  as  if  he  had  said.  My  soul  is  pierced. 

12. — another's  bosom;  i.  e.  when,  endeavoring  to  draw  nourishment 
from  the  breasts  of  their  exhausted  mothers,  they  breathed  their  last  in. 
their  bosoms. 

14. — and  seduction;  i.  e.  such  as  seduce  from  the  worship  and 
service  of  God. 

18.  —  apple  of  thine  eye  cease  ;  i.  e.  from  shedding  tears. 

19. — beginning  of  the  ivatches ;  i.  e.  the  first  watch  of  the  night,  of 
which  there  were  three  with  the  ancient  Hebrews,  the  first,  the  middle, 
and  the  third  or  morning  watch.  See  Judges  vii.  19;  Ex.  xiv.  24; 
1  Sam.  xi.  11.  In  the  New  Testament  four  are  mentioned,  in  con- 
formity with  the  custom  of  the  Romans. 

22.  — as  on  a  festal  day ;  i.  e.  thou  hast  caused  ray  terrible  enemies 
or  calamities  to  be  assembled  against  me,  as  my  people  were  wont  to 
assemble  in  great  crowds  on  festal  occasions.     Comp.  verse  7. 


LAMENTATIONS.  335 

III.  It  has  been  supposed  by  several  critics  that  the  Jewish  people 
is  represented  in  this  chapter  under  the  image  of  a  single  man.  But 
from  verse  14,  and  58-  63,  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  Jeremiah  be- 
wails his  own  calamities,  those  which  he  suflered  from  the  enemies 
of  his  country  in  common  with  his  countrymen,  and  those  which  he 
suffered  from  them. 

3.  — turn  his  hand ;  i.  e.  he  smites  me  again  and  again. 

5.  — builded  against  me  ;  i.  e.  hath  built  mounds,  or  other  means  of 
annoyance  against  me,  as  in  the  siege  of  a  city.     See  Ezek.  iv.  2. 

11.  —  turned  aside  my  ways;  i.  e.  made  them  deviate  from  a  true  and 
straight  way ;  made  them  crooked.     See  ver.  9. 

13. — sons  of  his  quiver;  i.  e.  his  arrows. 

20,  Yea,  thou  wilt,  &c.  So  in  Cranmer's  Bible  :  "  Yee,  thou  shalt 
remembre  them ;  for  my  soule  melteth  awaye  in  me." 

21.  This  I  recall,  &c.  This  may  refer  to  the  last  line,  or  to  the  fol- 
lowing verse. 

27. — the  yoke;  i.  e.  of  affliction,  of  chastisement. 

28.  — since  He  layeth  it ;  i.  e.  the  yoke  upon  him.  The  name  of  God 
is  understood,  as  often  in  Job.     See  note  upon  Job  iii.  20. 

37.  Who  is  he  that  saith,  &c. ;  i.  e.  who  is  he  that  can  command  any- 
thing to  be  done,  so  that  it  shall  be  effected,  unless  Jehovah  permit  or 
order  it  to  be  done  1  Others  translate  the  line.  Who  is  he  that  saith, 
"It  happened,  Jehovah  commanded  it  not  "  ? 

39.  Let  him  murmur.  So  in  Cranmer's  Bible :  "  Wherfore  then 
murmureth  the  lyvynge  man  ?     Let  him  murmure  at  his  awne  synne." 

63.  Behold  their  sitting  down  and  their  rising  up,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  Behold,  at 
all  times,  I  am  the  object  of  their  derision.     SeePs.  cxxxix.  2. 

IV.  1.  —  hallowed  stones ;  i.  e.  the  gems  worn  upon  the  garment  of 
the  chief  priest,  upon  which  were  inscribed  the  names  of  the  twelve 
tribes  of  Israel.  See  Exod.  xxviii.  — cast  forth,  &c. ;  i.  e.  become  vile, 
as  the  filth  that  is  cast  out  into  the  street.  Some  understand  "  hallowed 
stones  "  metaphorically,  as  denoting  the  principal  inhabitants  of  Jerusa- 
lem. 

3. — cruel,  like  the  ostriches.  See  Job  xxxix.  13,  &c.,  and  the  note. 
"On  the  least  noise  or  trivial  occasion,"  says  Dr  Shaw,  "  she  [i.  e.  the 
ostrich]  forsakes  her  eggs  or  her  young  ones,  to  which  perhaps  she 
never  returns ;  or  if  she  does,  it  may  be  too  late  either  to  restore  life 
to  the  one,  or  to  preserve  the  lives  of  the  others.  Agreeable  to  this 
account,  the  Arabs  meet  sometimes  with  whole  nests  of  these  eggs  un- 
disturbed ;  some  of  them  are  sweet  and  good,  others  are  addle  and  cor- 
rupted; others  again  have  their  young  ones  of  different  growth,  accord- 
ing to  the  time,  it  may  be  presumed,  they  may  have  been  forsaken  of 
the  dam.  They  often  meet  with  a  few  of  the  little  ones  no  bigger  than 
well-grown  pullets,  half  starved,  straggling,  and  moaning  about,  like 
so  many  distressed  orphans,  for  their  mother." 

5.  — embrace  the  dunghill;  i.  e.  either  hoping  to  find  some  sustenance, 
or  to  rest  upon  it  in  place  of  the  rich  cai'pets  and  couches  to  which 
they  had  been  accustomed. 


856  NOTES. 

9. — stricken  through;  i.  e.  killed.  They  die  by  a  lingering  death, 
and  yet  as  surely  as  if  they  had  been  stricken  through,  in  reference  to 
the  phraseology  of  the  preceding  line. 

14,  15.  They  stumbled,  &c.  It  has  been  doubted  whether  these  ver- 
ses, as  far  as  to  As  they  fled,  &c.,  contain  a  continuation  of  the  descrip- 
tion of  the  wickedness  of  the  prophets  and  priests,  or  whether  the  whole 
is  to  be  understood  of  their  punishment.  I  prefer  the  latter  supposition. 
I  am  inclined  to  think  the  meaning  is,  that  the  priests  and  prophets 
stumbled  through  terror,  pursued  by  the  enemies  who  had  taken  the 
city,  and  polluted  by  blood  shed  by  their  pursuers.  The  priests  and 
prophets  shed  innocent  blood,  one  would  think,  not  by  raving  through 
the  streets,  sword  in  hand,  but  in  a  more  secret  way,  by  instigating 
their  agents. 

16.  They  paid  no  regard,  &c, ;  lit.  They  accepted  not  the  flxce  or  per- 
son ;  i.  e.  the  victorious  enemies  regarded  not  the  entreaties  of  the 
priests ;  they  had  no  pity  on  them,  according  to  the  parallel  expres- 
sion. The  phrase,  "  to  receive  or  accept  the  person,"  was  borrowed 
from  the  practice  of  an  Eastern  king  or  judge  in  admitting  to  his 
presence  those  who  came  with  presents,  or  who  had  interest,  and 
granting  their  request.  Hence  it  often  means  to  be  partial.  Here, 
however,  it  has  the  meaning  assigned  to  it  in  the  text. 

17.  —  a  nation  that  could  nut  save  us;  i.  e.  Egypt.  See  Jer.  xxxvii. 
5-11. 

20.  The  breath  of  our  nostrils ;  i.  e.  King  Zcdckiah,  upon  whom  they 
placed  great  dependence  for  life,  or  national  existence.  To  "  live 
among  the  nations "  here  means  to  live  as  safe  as  one  among  the 
nations. 

V.  4.  Our  water,  &c. ;  i.  e.  we  are  obliged  to  pay  our  conquerors 
money  for  the  water  which  we  draw  from  wells  and  fountains  once  our 
own. 

6. — given  the  hand :  placed  ourselves  in  subjection  to.  See  Jer.  1. 
15,  and  the  note. 

7. — bear  their  iniquities ;  i.  e.  the  calamities  which  our  fathers  mer- 
ited by  their  sins,  and  avoided  by  their  death. 

9.  — sword  of  the  wilderness;  i.  e.  the  swords  of  those  who  lay  in  wait 
to  plunder  all  whom  they  found  in  the  wilderness. 

17.  —  our  eyes  are  dim;  i.  e.  through  faintness  the  sight  of  our  eyes 
departs.  On  the  other  hand,  the  eyes  are  said  to  be  enlightened  when 
the  strengfli  is  restored  and  faintness  departs.     See  1  Sara.  xiv.  29. 

21.  Renew  our  days,  &c. ;  i.  e.  restore  to  us  what  we  enjoyed  in  for- 
mer days,  our  country,  temple,  religious  ordinances,  &c. 


EZEKIEL.  357 


NOTES    ON    EZEKIEL. 


EzEKiEL,  whose  name,  being  interpreted,  is  God-w'dl-strengtlien,  the 
Bon  of  Buzi,  a  priest,  was  one  of  the  ten  thousand  captives  carried 
with  King  Jehoiachin,  or  Jeconiah,  into  Mesopotamia,  and  placed 
near  the  river  Chebar,  or  Chaboras,  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  the  king  of 
Babylon.  (2  Kings  xxiv.  14.)  This  event  happened  about  twelve  years 
before  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  or  about  six  hundred  years  before 
the  Christian  era.  In  the  fifth  year  after  his  removal  he  was  called  to 
the  prophetic  oflice,  ch.  i.  2,  which  he  continued  to  exercise  to  at  least 
the  sixteenth  year  after  the  capture  of  Jerusalem  by  Nebuchadnezzar, 
or  to  the  twenty-seventh  of  his  captivity,  that  is,  about  twenty-two 
years  ;  not  twenty-seven,  as  is  stated  by  Jahn.  How  much  longer  he 
proi^hesied,  and  when  he  closed  his  life,  we  are  not  informed.  From 
what  has  been  said,  it  appears  that  he  was  a  contemporary  of  Jeremiah. 
A  great  help  to  the  intelligent  perusal  of  both  of  these  prophets  is  the 
Jewish  history  of  the  times  in  which  they  flourished.  It  may  be 
found  in  the  Bible,  or  in  the  writings  of  Josephus,  or  in  Prideaux's 
Connection,  or  in  Milman's  History  of  the  Jews. 

Respecting  the  comparative  merits  of  Ezekiel  as  a  writer,  there  has 
been  a  considerable  diversity  of  opinion,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  remarks 
of  Bishop  Lowth  upon  this  prophet,  in  his  Lectures  on  Hebrew  Poetry, 
and  the  note  of  Michaelis.  To  me  the  judgment  of  Michaehs  appears 
in  this  instance  to  be  more  correct  than  that  of  Lowth.  Undoubtedly 
there  are  to  be  found  in  Ezekiel  some  striking  passages,  such  as  the 
vision  of  the  dry  bones,  some  great  thoughts,  such  as  that  in  ch.  xxxvi. 
26,  and  many  bold  images.  But  in  general  he  wearies  the  reader  by 
endless  amplification  and  frequent  repetition,  and  sometimes  disgusts 
by  his  minuteness  of  detail  in  the  delineation  of  gross  images.  One 
illustration,  which  Isaiah  has  despatched  in  a  single  verse,  or  a  single 
expression.  Is.  i.  21,  Ezekiel  has  spun  out  into  whole  chapters,  so  as 
to  lead  us  to  wonder  at  the  state  of  society  when  such  things  would 
not  be  offensive  to  the  taste  of  a  writer  of  genius  and  his  contemporary 
readers.  See  ch.  xvi.  and  xxiii.  His  visions  and  allegories  some- 
times dazzle  and  confound  rather  than  impress  and  instruct  us,  though 
it  may  be  said  that  his  contemporaries  may  have  attached  a  meaning 
to  them  where  we  cannot.  Yet  he  was  himself  so  sensible  of  the 
obscurity  of  some  of  his  emblems  and  allegories,  that  he  gives  a  verbal 
explanation  of  them.  Some  of  his  emblems  are  forced  and  unnatural, 
and  there  occui's  occasionally  something  ludicrous  in  their  want  of 
appropriateness ;  as  when  he  takes  an  ii-ou  pan,  and  lays  siege  to  it,  as 
the  emblem  of  enemies  besieging  the  wall  of  a  city.  His  language  is 
generally  prosaic,  prolix,  and  without  strength. 

There  may  appear  to  some  readers  a  want  of  reverence  in  thus 
speaking  of  the  style  of  the  prophet ;  but  since  the  time  of  Bishop 
Lowth  the  style  of  the  sacred  writers  has  been  regarded  as  their  own, 


858  NOTES. 

and  made  the  subject  of  criticism,  and  in  my  opinion  great  injury  is 
done  to  the  just  claims  of  the  sacred  writers  by  extravagant  and  indis- 
criminate eulogy. 

Though  I  cannot  rank  Ezekiel  so  high  amongst  the  sacred  writers 
as  some  others  have  done,  in  regard  to  the  style  and  dress  in  which  he 
conveys  his  sentiments,  I  yield  to  no  one  in  respect  for  the  depth  of 
his  moral  feelings,  and  his  j  ust  and  discriminating  moral  and  religious 
views.     See  iii.  17-21,  xviii.,  xxxiii. 

The  prophecies  of  Ezekiel  have  sometimes  been  divided  into  three 
parts  :  —  I.  Those  relating  to  the  Jews  before  the  destruction  of  Jerusa- 
lem, ch.  i.  -  xxiv. ;  II.  Prophecies  relating  to  foreign  nations,  ch.  xxv. 
-  xxxii. ;  III.  Prophecies  relating  to  the  Jews  after  the  destruction  of 
Jerusalem,  ch.  xxxiii.  -  xlviii. 

I.  1.  —  in  the  tldi-tieth  year;  i.  e.  of  the  reign  of  Nabopolassar,  the 
first  king  of  Babylon  that  was  independent  of  Assyria.  Sec  Ros.  ad. 
loc.  — visions  of  God;  i.  c.  visions  presented  or  sent  by  God.  The 
plural  is  here  used,  because  the  vision  to  which  it  relates  consists  of 
a  variety  of  particulars. 

3.  — hand  of  Jehovah,  &c. ;  i.  e.  he  was  under  the  influence  of  the 
divine  spirit. 

4. — a  stormy  wind  came  from  the  noiih.  I  do  not  regard  this  as  re- 
ferring to  the  calamities  which  were  to  burst  on  Jerusalem  from  her 
Northern  enemies,  the  Chaldxans  ;  but  rather  as  prej)aratory  to  the 
manifestation  of  the  Deity  which  follows.  Comp.  1  Kings  xix.  11  ; 
Acts  ii.  2.  The  storm  is  said  to  come  from  the  north,  in  allusion  to 
an  opinion  that  prevailed  in  the  East,  that  in  the  remotest  regions  of 
the  North  there  was  a  certain  mount  of  congregation,  a  place  where 
God  and  his  angels  assembled.  See  Is.  xiv.  13,  and  the  notes  of 
Gesenius  or  Eosenmueller  upon  it.  It  may  be  here  remarked,  that  it 
is  against  the  spirit  of  the  writer  to  ex])lain  the  circumstances  of  the 
vision  too  minutely,  or  to  assign  a  particular  meaning  to  every  part  of 
the  scene.  Ezekiel  evidently  describes  a  manifestation  of  the  Deity  to 
him,  by  which  he  was  called  to  assume  and  exercise  the  prophetic 
office.  This  was  the  great  design  of  the  vision.  The  circumstances 
under  which  this  manifestation  was  made  were  designed  to  make  it 
more  august  and  impressive.  He  who  is  elsewhere  said  to  make  the 
clouds  his  chariot,  is  here  represented  as  sitting  upon  such  a  chariot, 
and  drawn  by  living  creatures  of  wonderful  excellence,  and  in  a  man- 
ner calculated  to  excite  astonishment  and  veneration,  —  in  an  unearthly 
manner,  and  corresponding  to  the  greatness  of  Deity.  Various  par- 
ticulars in  the  description  are  introduced  only  to  fill  up  the  scene  and 
add  to  its  majesty. 

5.  — four  living  creatures.  In  ch.  x.  they  are  called  cherubs,  and 
are  to  be  regarded  as  a  class  of  angels.  In  Gen.  iii.  24  they  are 
represented  as  guarding  the  tree  of  life.  They  are  said  to  have  the 
human  form,  by  which  it  is  to  be  understood  that  they  resembled  man 
in  respect  to  their  size  and  their  erect  stature.     In  other  respects  their 


EZEKIEL.  859 

forms  are  borrowed  from  creatures  regarded  as  most  excellent  upon 
the  earth,  namely,  from  the  lion,  the  first  amongst  wild  beasts,  the 
eagle,  the  first  amongst  birds,  the  ox,  the  first  amongst  tame  animals, 
and  from  man,  the  head  of  them  all.  As  symbols,  tliese  animals  de- 
note strength  and  wisdom ;  or  perhaps,  strength,  swiftness,  obedience, 
and  wisdom.  Having  four  faces,  they  are  ready  to  go  with  pi'ompt 
ness  and  execute  the  commands  of  God  in  every  direction.  The  rep- 
resentation of  the  Deity,  having  his  chariot-throne  borne  by  creatures 
uniting  the  forms  of  various  animals,  was  agi'ceable  to  the  conceptions 
of  the  Eastern  nations,  as  appears  from  antiquities  of  Egypt,  and  some 
of  the  countries  of  Asia.     See  Rosenmueller  on  ch.  i.  10. 

7. — their  feet  were  upriglit ;  i.  e.  perpendicular,  not  horizontal,  like 
human  feet. 

9.  —  were  joined  one  to  another;  i.  e.  of  the  two  in  front,  and  of  the 
two  behind,  the  right  wing  of  one  reached  to  the  left  wing  of  the  other ; 
the  extremities  of  tbe  expanded  inner  wings  forming  an  arch.  —  New- 
come.  —  they  turned  not  about.  Having  a  face  in  each  direction,  they 
could  go  forward  or  backward,  to  the  right  hand  or  to  the  left.  The 
wheels  also  were  adapted  to  such  motions.  For  it  appears  from  verses 
16  and  17  that  the  wheels  were  made  so  as  to  move  sideways  as  well 
as  straightforwards  ;  i.  e.  they  were  composed  of  two  rims  intersecting 
each  other  at  right  angles.  There  was  no  need,  therefore,  of  their  turn- 
ing. This  proceeding  directly  on,  in  the  same  undcviating,  inflexible 
position,  seems  to  show  their  steadiness  in  performing  the  Divine  will, 
which  advances  to  its  destined  goal  right  onwards.  It  may  be  said 
that  it  is  impossible  to  construct  wheels  of  this  kind,  so  as  to  move 
a  carriage  as  is  here  represented.  But  in  vision  they  would  go  as 
well  as  any  wheels.  No  human  artist  could  give  a  living  spirit  to 
wheels. 

12. — the  spirit  was  to  go.  By  a  comparison  of  this  plu-aseology 
with  verses  20,  21,  and  x.  17,  I  should  suppose  that  spirit  in  this  verse 
denotes  the  Divine  spirit  or  power  which  was  imparted  to  the  living 
creatures.  So  in  ch.  ii.  2  it  is  said,  "  The  spirit  entered  into  me, 
when  he  spoke  to  me,  and  set  me  upon  my  feet."  Others  understand 
by  it  inclination,  or  ivill. 

15.  —  with  its  four  sides.  The  wheel  being  composed  of  two  rims 
intersecting  each  other  at  right  angles,  as  it  were  a  wheel  within  a 
wheel,  the  four  semicircular  parts  thus  formed  seem  to  be  called  the 
four  faces  or  sides.     Otherwise,  according  to  their  four  faces. 

18.  — full  of  eyes.  Their  eyes  may  be  supposed  to  represent  God's 
all-seeing  providence. 

20.  — for  the  spirit  of  the  living  creatures  was  in  the  ivheels ;  i.  e.  the 
same  Divine  spirit  which  was  in  the  living  creatures,  directing  their 
motions,  was  also  in  the  wheels. 

22. — a  firmament  like  crystal.  So  in  the  Apocalypse,  iv.  6,  the 
floor  or  pavement  of  the  Divine  throne  is  represented  as  "a  sea  of 
glass,  like  unto  crystal."  And  in  Exodus  xxiv.  10,  it  is  said  that  the 
elders  of  Israel  "  saw  the  God  of  Israel,  and  under  his  feet  as  it  were 


330  NOTES. 

a  paved  work  of  sapphire,  and  shining  like  heaven  itself."  It  has  been 
said  that  this  representation  of  the  pavement  of  the  Divine  thi'one  is 
borrowed  fi'om  the  custom  of  the  ancients,  who  covered  the  floors  of 
their  more  costly  edifices  with  glass  or  crystal.     See  Ros,  ad  loc. 

24. — voice  of  the  Almiijhtij ;  i,  e.  like  thunder.  Comp.  x.  5;  Ps. 
xxix.  3,  &c. 

26.  —  like  that  of  a  man.  So  in  Dan.  vii.  9,  the  Supreme  Being  is 
represented  in  the  form  of  an  aged  man. 

II.    1.   Son  of  man;  i.  e.  0  man ;  0  thou  that  belongest  to  the  race 
of  mortal  men,  in  contradistinction  from  God  and  angels, 
4.    Brazenfaced,  lit.  hard  of  face. 

9. — a  hook-roll.  It  is  well  known  that  ancient  books  were  written 
so  as  to  be  rolled  up  in  the  manner  of  modern  maps,  on  cylinders  of 
•wood  or  ivory.  Hence  the  word  volume,  from  volumen,  a  Latin  word 
from  volvo,  to  roll. 

10.  — icitldn  and  ivithoiit.  Contraiy  to  the  state  of  the  ancient  rolls 
in  general,  which  were  written  only  on  the  inside.  Thus  Juvenal 
mentions  it  as  an  unusual  circumstance,  denoting  a  prolix,  wearisome 
writer :  — 

"  Aut  summi  plena  jam  margine  libri 
Scriptus,  et  in  tergo,  nee  dum  tinitus  Orestes?  " 

Sat.  I.  5,  6. 

"  Or,  huger  still, 
Orestes,  with  broad  mai-gin  over-writ, 
And  back,  and  —  0  ye  gods !  not  finished  yet  ?  " 

Giford's  Trans. 

Adam  Clarke  remarks :  "  The  Hebrew  rolls  are  generally  written  in 
this  way.  There  are  several  of  such  Hebrew  rolls  before  me,  all  writ- 
ten on  the  inside  only,  consisting  of  skins  of  vellum,  or  parchment, 
sewed  together,  extending  to  several  yards  in  length.  Other  Asiatic 
books  were  written  in  the  same  way.  A  Sanscrit  roll  of  sixty  feet  in 
length,  also  before  me,  is  all  written  on  the  inside  ;  and  a  Koran,  writ- 
ten in  exceedingly  small  characters,  about  two  inches  broad,  and 
twelve  feet  long,  and  weighing  but  al)Out  half  an  ounce."  The  cir- 
cumstance that  the  roll  here  mentioned  was  written  within  and 
without,  denotes  that  it  contained  denunciations  of  a  long  series  of 
calamities. 

m.  1 .  —  eat  this  roll.  We  have  a  common  metaphor  at  the  present 
day,  with  a  similar,  though  not  precisely  the  same,  meaning.  To  de- 
vour a  book,  as  the  phrase  is  now  used,  denotes  the  eagerness  and  in- 
terest with  which  it  is  perused.  To  eat,  when  used  in  a  similar  way  by 
the  Hebrews,  seems  to  have  reference  to  the  thoroughness  with  which 
one  becomes  master  of  the  book  or  subject  to  which  it  is  applied.  The 
author  of  the  Apocalypse  borrows  the  metaphor  from  this  passage  in 
Rev.  x.  9,  10.     It  is  used  by  our  Saviour  in  its  utmost  boldness,  when 


EZEKIEL.  331 

he  says,  "  Unless  ye  cat  the  flesh  of  the  Son  of  Man  and  drink  his 
blood,  ye  have  no  life  in  you,"  John  vi.  53  ;  which  is  explained  by 
ver.  35,  "  He  that  cometh  to  me  shall  never  hunger,  and  he  that  believeth 
on  me  shall  never  thirst."  "  To  eat  the  flesh  and  to  drink  the  blood  of 
the  Son  of  ISIan,"  is  thoroughly  to  receive  and  retain  all  those  good  in- 
fluences which  flow  from  his  doctrines,  his  precepts,  his  life,  and  his 
death ;  and  for  the  prophet  to  eat  the  book-roll  was  for  him  to  be  tHer- 
oughly  acquainted  with  its  contents.  The  same  metaphor  is  used  by 
later  Jewish  writers.  Thus,  in  reference  to  a  Jewish  opinion  that  Hez- 
ekiah  was  the  Messiah,  it  is  said,  "  Ilabbi  Hillel  said,  Israel  shall  not 
have  a  Messiah,  since  they  eat  him  in  the  time  of  Hezekiah."  And 
again,  "  It  shall  be,  that  they  shall  eat  the  years  of  the  Messiah."  See 
also  Jer.  xv.  16.  It  is  remarked  by  Archbishop  Newcome,  upon  the 
passage,  that  "  Christians  eat  bread  and  drink  wine,  partly  to  show 
that  they  should  receive  and  imbibe  the  doctrines  of  Christ  so  as  to 
practise  them."     In  verse  10,  the  prophet  uses  plain  language. 

3.  —  as  honey  for  sweetness.  This  seems  to  denote  that  the  prophet 
received  his  commission  from  God  with  willingness  and  satisfiiction. 

12. — from  his  place ;  i.  e.  by  us,  his  ministering  spirits,  who  are  now 
in  the  place  where  his  glory  dwelleth. 

14.  — but  the  hand  of  Je/iovah,  &c. ;  i.  e.  I  was  impelled  by  a  strong 
influence  from  God. 

15.  — astonished;  i.  e.  by  the  commission  with  which  I  was  intrusted 
and  the  overpowering  splendor  of  the  vision. 

20.  —  a  stumbling-block ;  i.  e.  "  such  a  temptation  to  sin,  and  particu- 
larly to  idolatry,  as  he  might  have  resisted."  —  Newcome. 

IV.  4.  — lay  the  iniquity,  &c. ;  i.  e.  declare  that  you  thus  represent  the 
punishment  of  the  iniquity  of  Israel.  — thou  shalt  bear ;  i.  e.  shalt  pre- 
signify  the  punishment  which  they  shall  bear. 

12.  —  dung.  The  dung  of  oxen  and  camels  was  often  used  in  the 
East  as  fuel  for  preparing  their  food.  The  command  to  use  human 
dung  expressed  extreme  necessity. 

v.  6.  —  more  than  the  nations :  because  the  nations  have  adhered  to 
the  religious  rites  transmitted  down  to  them  by  their  ancestors. 

16.  Rosenmiiller  remarks  :  "It  is  not  necessary  to  suppose,  with 
Gi'Otius,  that  the  arrows  of  famine  denote  thunderbolts,  winds,  ^rms, 
locusts,  mildew,  with  which,  as  v/ith  arrows,  God  destroys  the  Imrvest 
and  brings  famine ;  but  weapons  are  attributed  to  famine  itself,  because 
it  will  press  them  like  an  enemy  on  every  side,  and,  as  it  were,  destroy 
them  with  weapons." 

VI.  3.  — high  places,  upon  which  idolatrous  worship  was  practised. 

4. — sun-images;  i.  e.  statues  representing  the  sun,  regarded  as  a 
deity.  Their  form  was  probably  conical  or  pyramidal,  being  borrowed 
from  the  ascent  of  a  flame  of  fire.     See  Ges.  Thes.  ad  loc. 

11.  Smite;  i.  e.  with  one  hand  upon  the  other,  i.  e.  smite  thine 
hands  together  ;  a  gesture  of  astonishment  and  griii'. 

VOL.  II.  16 


832  NOTES. 

VII.  6.  It  awakeih,  &c.  For  the  end  of  a  country  to  awake  seems 
a  harsh  metaphor.  Its  use,  however,  in  the  original  is  accounted 
for  by  the  circumstance  that  the  two  words  form  what  is  called  a 
paronomasia:  a  play  upon  words  somewhat  analogous  to  alliteration. 
Thy  ruin  runneth  is  an  expression  somewhat  resembling  the  original. 

7.  Thy  fate,  \\t.  thy  circle :  the  vicissitudes  of  things  being  con- 
ceiMed  of  as  revolving  in  a  circle. 

10.  The  rod  hath  blossomed.  "  The  rod  of  oppression  and  of  wicked- 
ness, ver.  11,  prevails  among  the  Jews,  and  their  pride  increases."  — 
Newcome. 

12.  Nor  the  seller  mourn :  as  his  property  would  soon  be  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  enemy. 

13.  — tJie  seller  shall  not  return  ;  i.  e.  at  the  year  of  jubilee. 

14.  Far  mine  anger,  &c.  ;  Avhicli  prevents  their  going  to  battle  by 
taking  away  their  courage  and  resources.     Comp,  Is.  xxix.  14. 

17.  —  shall  flow  loith  water ;  i.  e.  shall  be,  as  it  wei-c,  dissolved  into 
water,  and  unable  to  support  their  bodies. 

19. — stumbling-block  of  their  iniquity.  It  was  employed  to  adorn 
their  idols,  and  to  nourish  their  own  pride. 

22.  —  my  secret  place ;  i.  e.  the  sanctuary,  which  was  not  to  be  ap- 
proached by  any  but  the  priests. 

23.  Make  a  chain ;  i.  e.  to  denote  that  the  people  shall  be  led  into 
captivity  in  chains. 

26.  —  seek  a  vision,  &c.,  whether  there  be  any  way  of  escaping  their 
calamities.  — Instruction,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  there  shall  be  no  one  who  can 
show  them  a  way  of  escape,  either  by  an  answer  from  God  or  by 
human  wisdom.  "  Then  shall  they  seeke  visyons  in  vayne  at  their 
prophetcs."  —  Cranmer's  Bible. 

27. — be  troubled ;  i.  e.  be,  as  it  were,  in  trepidation,  in  a  tremor. 

VIII.  3.  —  in  the  visions  of  God;  i.  e.  not  by  actual  removal,  but 
mental  representation.  — the  idol  of  jealousy ;  i.e.  an  idol  which 
rivalled  God  and  provoked  his  jealousy ;  probably  an  image  of  Baal. 
See  2  Kings  xxiii.  4,  5. 

10. — creeping  things.  The  prophet  seems  here  to  refer  to  idolatries 
borrowed  from  Egypt.  "  Round  the  room  in  Thebes,  where  the  body 
of  king  Osymandrias  seemed  to  be  buried,  a  multitude  of  chambers 
was  built,  which  had  elegant  paintings  of  all  the  beasts  sacred  in 
Egypt."  —  Diod.  Sic.  1,  p.  59,  cd.  Wess.,  quoted  by  Newcome. 

12.  —  in  the  dark. 

*'  By  the  vision  led 
His  eye  survej'ed  the  dark  idolatries 
Of  alienated  Judah." 

Par.  Lost,  I.  455. 

14.  —  weeping  for  TTiammuz.  The  name  of  a  Syrian  god  correspond- 
ing to  the  Adonis  of  the  Greeks.  For  a  good  account  of  the  manner 
in  which  the  fabled  death  and  resurrection  of  this  god  were  celebrated. 


EZEKIEL.  363 

and  of  their  symbolical  import,  see  Eobinson's  Calmet's  Dictionary, 
article  Adonis. 

"  The  love-tale 
Infected  Sion's  daughters  with  like  heat  ; 
Whose  wanton  passions  in  the  sacred  porch 
Ezekiel  saw." 

Par.  Lost,  I.  453. 

17.  —  hrancli  to  their  nostrils.  In  allusion  to  a  custom  of  the  Per- 
sians, who,  when  they  worshipped  the  rising  sun,  used  to  hold  in  their 
left  hands  a  bunch  of  twigs  called  Barsom.     See  Ros.  ad  loc. 

IX.  2. — inkhorn  hj  his  side;  i.  e.  suspended  from  the  girdle,  as  is 
still  the  custom  in  the  East.      See  Robinson's  Calmet,  article  Inkhorn. 

4.  — a  mark.  This  mark  was  probably  the  last  letter  of  the  Hebrew 
alphabet  in  its  ancient  form,  somewhat  resembling  a  cross,  from 
which  the  T  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans,  which  is  the  same  as  ours, 
was  borrowed. 

7.     Pollute  the  house ;  i.  e.  with  the  blood  of  the  slain. 

X.  1 .  —  cherubs.  I  see  not  why  the  plural  of  cherub  should  not 
be  formed  in  the  usual  way.  The  Bishop's  Bible  has  it  c/ieruims ; 
Cranmer's,  cherubins. 

2. — over  the  citt/,  to  denote  that  the  city  should  be  burned  by  the 
Babylonians. 

13.  Whirlwind.     See  Is.  v.  28. 

14.  —  cherub.  From  eh.  i.  10,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  face 
of  an  ox  is  here  denoted.  But  why  the  face  of  the  ox,  rather  than 
either  of  the  other  three  faces,  should  be  called  the  face  of  the  cherub, 
it  is  not  easy  to  say.  Lightfoot,  as  quoted  by  Ros.  ad  loc,  supposes 
the  appellation  to  arise  from  the  circumstance  that  it  was  the  face  of 
the  ox  that  presented  itself  to  the  high-priest  as  he  was  advancing  to- 
ward the  ark. 

XI.  3.  The  time  is  not  near  that  we  should  build  houses.  Newcome 
explains  this  passage  as  follows  :  "  The  time  is  not  near  that  we  should 
build  houses  in  a  foreign  land.  Compare  Jer.  xxix.  5.  Here  we  shall 
die  in  mature  age,  as  the  choice  pieces  are  not  taken  out  of  the  cal- 
dron till  they  are  perfectly  prepared.  The  image  is  suggested  by  the 
process  at  the  Jewish  sacrifices.  See  1  Sam.  ii.  13,  14.  In  opposition 
to  this,  God  says  in  verse  7,  that  if  Jerusalem  is  the  caldron,  it  is  the 
caldron  of  the  slain;  and  in  verse  11,  that  it  should  not  be  the  caldron 
of  many,  who  wei'e  destined  to  fly  and  to  perish  in  the  extreme  parts 
of  their  country.  See  2  Kings  xxv.  6,  7,  21."  Or,  "  The  city  is  the 
caldron,  and  we  are  the  flesh,"  may  denote  simply,  We  will  share  all 
fates  with  her ;  we  will  cither  be  preserved  or  perish  with  her. 

5.  Thus  have  ye  said,  &c.  "Ye  have  advanced  the  assertion  men- 
tioned in  verse  3.    You  have  rightly  said.    What  you  say,  '  The  city  is 


364  NOTES. 

the  caldron,  and  we  are  the  flesh,'  shall  be  fultilled,  but  not  as  you  un- 
•lerstand  it.  Many  of  you  will  perish  in  the  city.  For  those  it  will  be 
{.tie  caldron,  and  they  will  be  the  flesh  boiled  in  it.  But  yourselves 
vyhall  not  be  the  flesh  in  the  caldron  ;  but  you  shall  be  taken  out  and 
elsewhere  cut  in  pieces." 

Kosenmueller  explains  it  somewhat  differently,  supposing  the  mean- 
ing of  those  who  used  the  proverb  to  be,  "  The  Babylonians  will  take 
and  burn  the  city,  and  we,  who  are  shut  up  in  it,  shall  be  burned,  as 
flesh  is  boiled  in  a  pot ;  it  is  not  safe,  therefore,  to  remain  in  the  city, 
much  less  to  build  or  repair  houses."  Kosenmueller  supposes  their  ob- 
ject to  be,  to  show  the  necessity  of  procuring  aid  from  the  Egyptians, 
which  Jeremiah,  as  well  as  Ezekiel,  xvii.  15,  had  opposed  as  injurious 
to  the  state.  The  explanation  of  Newcome  seems  to  be  favored  by 
verse  15.  See  also  Jer.  xxxviii.  17-23.  It  is  a  frequent  practice  with 
Ezekiel  to  express  in  plain  language  what  he  had  previously  expressed 
in  metaphor  or  allegory. 

16.  —  sanctuary;  i.  e.  a  place  of  refuge,  an  asylum  ;  the  sacred  places 
among  the  Hebrews  having  the  privileges  of  an  asylum.  See  1  Ivings 
i.  50 ;  ii.  28. 

23.  —  the  mountain,  S:c.  ;  i.  e.  the  Mount  of  Olives.  The  assertion, 
that  the  glory  of  Jehovah  went  up  from  the  midst  of  the  city,  may  de- 
note that  he  would  desert  the  city. 

XII.  3. — prepare  thee  stuff  for  removing  ;  i.  e.  whatever  is  necessary 
for  a  long  journey.  It  is  evident  that  the  prophet  is  ordered  to  do 
this,  in  order  to  represent  in  his  own  person  the  flight  and  exile  of 
Zedekiah  and  the  Jews. 

4.  —  at  even.  A  circum'stance  which  seems  to  denote  secret  flight 
Comp.  2  Kings  xxv.  4. 

6.  Cover  thy  face  :  a  sign  of  shame  and  grief. 

7.  —  tfie  wall;  i.  e.  the  wall  of  his  house,  which,  says  Kimchi,  was 
to  be  broken  through  with  the  hand,  rather  than  with  instruments  of 
iron,  so  that  the  noise  might  not  be  heard. 

13.  — not  see  it.    His  eyes  were  put  out.     See  2  Kings  xxv.  7. 
16.  —  declare:  confessing  that  they  were  justly  punished  for  their 
idolatries  and  immoralities. 

XIII.  2. — out  of  their  own  hearts ;  i.  e.  things  of  their  own  inven- 
tion, without  a  commission  from  God. 

4.  — like  the  foxes;  i.  e.  they  destroy  the  vineyard  of  Jehovah  instead 
of  protecting  it. 

6.  Ye  have  not  gone  up,  &c. ;  i.  e.  ye  have  not  used  the  means  to 
avert  from  the  people  the  judgments  of  Jehovah,  by  your  intercessions, 
your  instructions,  your  warnings,  and  your  exemplary  conduct. 

8.  —  have  seen  a  lie  ;  i.  e.  prophesied  that  which  is  false. 

9.  —  in  the  assembly,  &c. ;  i.  e.  they  shall  not  be  considered  as  belong- 
ing to  my  people.  — register  ;  i.  e.  which  contains  the  names  of  all 
belonging  to  the  nation  of  Israel. 


E  Z  E  K I  E  L  .  365 

16  -  'even  the  prophets.  This  verse  explains  tlie  whole  from  verse  10. 
Jerusalem  is  the  wall  which  is  to  be  destroyed ;  and  those  who  daubed 
it  with  mortar  unduly  prepared  are  the  false  prophets. 

18.  — pilloirs,  &c.  This  language  seems  to  be  metaphorical,  denoting 
the  accommodating,  flattering  answers  which  these  female  prophets 
gave  to  those  who  consulted  them,  or  the  security  and  prosperity 
which  they  promised  to  the  people  generally.  See  verse  22.  For  the 
customs  from  which  the  language  is  borrowed,  see  Rob.  Calmet,  art. 
Bed.  — hunt  tlie  lives;  i.  e.  lead  them  to  destruction  for  your  own 
profit. 

19. — pollute  me;  i.  e.  by  uttering  their  false  oracles  in  the  name  of 
Jehovah. 

XIV.  3. — idols  in  their  heart;  i.  e.  they  have  a  strong  inward 
inclination  to  idolatry,  and  have  actually  set  up  idols,  which  they  wor- 
ship. 

5. — that  I  may  lay  hold;  i.  e.  catch,  surprise  them  in  their  own 
consciences,  when  they  perceive  that  I  am  ac(iuainted  with  their  secret 
idolatries,  and  denounce  the  woes  which  they  deserve. 

9.  /,  Jehovah,  have  deceived.  "  When  any  false  prophet  is  deceived, 
the  probable  event  proving  contrary  to  his  prophecy,  I,  Jehovah,  have 
so  superintended  the  course  of  things  as  to  deceive  that  prophet "  — 
Newcome. 

XV.  2. — a  branch,  that  is  among,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  which  is  unfruitful,  and 
so  on  a  par  with  barren  forest-trees. 

XVI.  2. — an  Amorile;  i.  e.  "Your  degenerate  and  idolatrous  con- 
duct being  suitable  to  such  a  descent.  See  Susan.  56,  John  viii.  44. 
It  is  the  language  of  indignation  and  reproof,  like 

'  Duris  genuit  te  cautibus  horrens 
Caucasus.' 

Virg.  jEn.  IV.  366."  —Newcome. 
See  also  Is.  i.  10. 

24.  — an  arched  place  ;  i.  e.  a  brothel,  corresponding  to  fornix  in  Latin. 
—  a  high  place ;  i.  e.  a  place  devoted  to  the  worship  of  idols.  Plain 
language  and  metaphorical  seem  to  be  mingled  in  this  verse. 

30.  — faint  ;  i.  e.  with  lust. 

31.  —  scoffeth  at  her  hire ;  i.  e.  at  a  low  price;  sets  a  high  price  on 
her  favors. 

56. — mentioned  by  thy  mouth;  i.  e.  she  was  held  in  such  contempt 
that  thou  didst  not  even  mention  her  name. 

62.  —  that  I  am  Jehovah  ;  i.  e.  the  Unchangeable. 

XVII.  3.  — great  eagle;  i.  e.  Nebuchadnezzar.     See  verse  12. 

5. — one  of  the  shoots  ;  i.  e.  Zedekiah,   of  the  seed  royal,  placed  in 
Judiea  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  after  the  removal  of  Jehoiachin. 
7.  — another  great  eagle;  i.  e.  the  king  of  Egypt. 


366  NOTES. 

XVIII.  6.  —  eat  not  upon  the  mountains;  i.  e.  things  offered  to  idols. 
See  Exod.  xxxii.  6.  —  lift  not  vp  his  eyes ;  i.  e.  in  trust  and  adoration. 
—  uncleanness.     See  Lev.  xx.  18. 

8. — usury ;  i.  e.  interest.     See  Dcut.  xxiii.  19,  20. 

13.  —  /lis  blood  shall  be  upon  him ;  i.  e.  he  shall  be  guilty  of  his  own 
blood  ;  the  voluntary  cause  of  his  own  death.  He  cannot  complain 
that  he  is  unjustly  condemned.     See  Lev.  xx.  9. 

17.  — keepeth  back  his  hand  from  tlie  poor ;  i.  e.  doth  not  lay  it  upon 
them  oppressively. 

XIX.  2. — a  lioness.  "An  allusion  to  Gen.  xlix.  9.  Judaja  was 
among  the  nations  like  a  lioness  among  the  beasts  of  the  forest.  She 
had  strength  and  sovereignty."  —  Ncwcome. 

3,  — one  of  her  whelps.  Jehoahaz,  the  son  of  Josiah.  Sec  2  Kings 
xxiii.  33,  34. 

5. — another,  &c.  This  is  commonly  supposed  to  be  Jehoiakim. 
See  2  Kings  xxiii.  34-36.  Rosenmuellcr,  however,  prefers  Jehoia- 
chin,  who  reigned  only  three  months,  on  the  ground  that  Jehoiakim 
was  made  king  by  Pharaoh  Necho,  rather  than  by  the  Jewish  people. 
But  Pharaoh  may  have  acted  from  the  recommendation,  or  with  the 
approbation,  of  the  people. 

7.  lie  knew,  &c.  The  word  is  here  used  in  the  same  sense  as  in 
Gen.  iv.  1. 

XX.  5.  —  lifed  up  vvj  hand;  i.  e.  swore.  See  Gen.  xiv.  22;  Ex. 
vi.  8. 

7.  —  the  abomination  of  his  eyes;  i.e.  the  idols  to  which  his  eyes 
look  with  pleasure  or  reverence. 

11.  — live;  i.  e.  prosper,  enjoy  prosperity. 

12. — a  sign;  i.  e.  "a  mark  of  distinction  to  mankind,  that  I  was 
their  Creator  and  God,  and  they  my  creatures  and  people;  and  a  me- 
morial to  themselves,  which  might  constantly  suggest  to  them  that 
they  were  set  apart  by  me  to  be  a  holy  and  peculiar  nation.  Exod. 
xxxi.  13." — Ncwcome. 

25.  I  gave,  them  statutes  that  were  not  good;  i.  e.  I  suffered  them 
to  fall  into  the  jbservance  of  idolatrous  rites  of  an  abominable  and 
destructive  character,  such  as  are  mentioned  in  the  following  verse. 

26.  /  polluted  t/iem;  i.  e.  suffered  them  to  pollute  themselves  with 
idolatrous  sacrifices. 

29.  "  What  is  this  idolatrous  high  place  to  which  ye  go  rather 
than  to  my  sanctuary  1  And  yet,  notwithstanding  my  reporof,  the 
name  continues,  and  the  practice,  unto  this  day." — Newcome. 

35.  —  desert  of  the  nations ;  i.  c.  the  barren  regions  which  lie  be- 
tween Judffia  and  Babylon. 

37. — under  the  rod;  a  shepherd's  rod,  in  allusion  to  the  custom  of 
numbering  flocks  and  herds  by  striking  them  with  the  rod  as  they  en- 
ter the  fold,  so  as  to  see  that  all  are  there.  — bond  of  the  covenant;  i.  e. 
1  will  renew  with  you  the  covenant  which  I  made  with  your  fathers, 


EZEKIEL.  867 

from  the  bond  of  which  yc  have,  as  it  were,  set  yourselves  loose  by 
your  impiety. 

39.  Be  altogether  idolaters,  or  altogether  worshippers  of  me,  Re- 
nouuce  me,  or  your  idols.     Choose  ye  whom  ye  will  serve. 

45.  —  the  South;  i.  c.  Jerusalem,  which  was  south  from  the  river  Clie- 
bar  in  Chaldsea. 

49.  Dothhe  not  speak  in  parables?  i.  e.  Is  he  not  unintelligible?  In 
what  follows,  Ch.  xxi.,  therefore,  the  prophet  is  instructed  to  deliver 
plainly  what,  in  verses  47,  48,  is  set  forth  parabolically. 

XXI.  3. — my  sword;  i.  e.  the  armed  Chaldoeans,  whom  I  shall  em- 
ploy to  execute  my  purposes.     See  ver.  9,  10. 

5. — not  return;  i.  e.  into  its  scabbard. 

6.  With  the  breaking  of  thy  loins ;  i.  e.  With  the  utmost  anguish, 
with  pain  in  thy  loins,  as  if  they  were  broken.  See  Is.  xxi.  3 ;  Nali. 
ii.  10. 

7. — ike  rumor ;  i.  e.  of  approaching  calamity.     See  vii.  26. 

10.  Or  shall  we  make  mirth?  i.  e.  rather  than  to  be  warned  by  tha 
threatened  chastisement.  —  The  staff  of  my  son  ;  i.  e.  the  tribe  or  peo- 
ple of  Israel,  so  denominated  from  the  sceptre  or  staff  of  the  leader  of 
the  tribe.  See  verse  13.  — every  rod ;  i.  e.  every  rod  of  chastisement. 
Various  explanations  of  this  uncertain  verse  may  be  found  in  Koscn- 
mueller. 

12. — smite  upon  thy  thigh.     See  the  note  on  Jcr.  xxxi.  19. 

13.  The  trial  is  made;  i.  e.  the  contemning  staff,  or  tribe,  which  is 
mentioned  in  the  following  line,  has  been  tried  by  means  of  prophetic 
warnings,  and  various  punishments.  — contemning  staff.  This  seems 
to  denote  the  scornful,  contumacious  staff,  or  tribe,  which  despises 
punishment,  in  verse  tenth,  and  is  here  threatened  with  entire  de- 
struction. 

16.  Unite  thyself:  sword  to  sword;  in  reference  to  verse  14,  "twice, 
yea  thrice,  cometh  the  sword,"  &c. 

17. — smite  my  hands:  a  gesture  of  sorrow;  or,  as  some  understand 
it,  of  encouragement  to  the  victorious  Chaldaans.  —  cause  mine  anget 
to  cease;  i.  e.  by  satisfying  it ;  by  inflicting  severe  punishment. 

19.  —  both  of  them;  i.  e.  the  ways,  or  roads. 

21. — use  divination:  in  order  to  discover  whether  he  should  first  at 
tack  Jerusalem,  or  Kabbah.  — his  arrows.  There  were  several  modes 
of  divination  by  arrows,  and  it  is  uncertain  which  was  practised 
here.  From  the  use  of  the  verb  shake  together,  it  is  probable  that  the 
names  of  the  cities  were  written  upon  the  arrows,  and  that  which  was 
first  drawn  out  was  regarded  as  indicating  the  city  which  should  first 
be  attacked.  Pococke,  in  his  Spec.  Hist.  Arab.,  p.  329,  relates,  that 
when  one  was  about  to  set  out  on  a  journey,  or  to  marry  a  wife,  or  to 
undertake  any  business  of  importance,  he  used  to  consult  three  arrows, 
which  he  kept  enclosed  in  a  box.  On  the  first  was  written,  God  orders 
ii;  on  the  second,  God  forbids  it ;  and  on  the  third  nothing  was  writ 
ten.     One  of  these  he  drav/s  out  with  his  hand,  and  if  it  be  that  which 


368  NOTES. 

has  the  first  inscription,  he  pursues  his  enterprise  with  alacrity  ;  if  the 
second,  he  desists  from  his  undertaking ;  and  if  the  blank  arrow,  he 
draws  again,  until  a  decisive  answer  be  given  by  one  of  the  other  two. 
See  Eos.  ad  loc.  — teraphim.  These  appear  to  have  been  idolatrous 
images  in  the  human  form.  How  they  were  questioned  is  uncertain. 
—  look  at  the  liver ;  a  mode  of  divination  familiar  to  the  Greeks  and 
Romans,  as  well  as  to  the  Orientals. 

22. — the  lot;  i.  e.  the  divination.  "When  he  puts  his  hand  into  the 
vessel  which  held  the  arrows,  he  shall  draw  out  one  which  has  in- 
scribed on  it  Jerusalem  with  its  destiny. 

23.  —  in  their  sight ;  i.  e.  of  the  Jews.  —  because  they  sivore  oaths  ;  i.  e. 
because  the  Chaldaians  had  bound  themselves  in  a  treaty  of  alliance 
by  an  oath  to  defend  the  Jews,  although  Zedekiah  and  the  Jews  had 
not  regarded  their  oath  to  Nebuchadnezzar.  A  very  different  expla- 
nation has  been  given  by  Schnun-er,  who  supposes  the  meaning  to  be, 
that  it  appeared  incredible  to  the  Babylonians  that  so  strong  a  city, 
having  the  pi'otection  of  Jehovah,  should  fall  before  him ;  that  some 
swore  there  was  fraud  in  the  augury,  and  some  that  it  was  founded  in 
truth  ;  and  that  finally  the  king  decided  that  the  Avickedness  and  im- 
piety of  the  Jews  were  so  great,  that  no  one  ought  to  despair  of  taking 
their  city.     See  l\os.  ad  loc. 

24.  —  that  hand ;  i.  e.  the  well-known  hand  or  power  of  Nebuchad- 
nezzar. 

25. — prince;  i.  e.  Zedekiah. 

26.  This  shall  no  more  be  this.  This  obscure  declaration  I  have 
thought  best  to  translate  as  literally  as  possible.  It  seems  to  indicate 
that  the  crown  or  dynasty  shall  be  changed. 

27. — the  right  belongeth ;  i.  e.  to  whom  belongeth  the  sovereignty, 
the  office  of  governing. 

28. — sons  of  Ammon.  See  verse  20.  — and  their  scorn;  i.  e.  which 
they  cast  upon  the  Jews  when  they  were  in  distress.  See  xxv.  3,  6; 
Zeph.  ii.  8. 

29.  —  while  they  see  deceit;  i.  e.  utter  false  prophecies.  — bring  thee 
to  the  necks ;  i.  e.  that  the  sword  may  bring  thee,  O  Ammonite,  pros- 
trate upon  the  mangled  bodies  of  the  slain,  —  of  those  whose  heads 
are  severed  from  their  bodies,  leaving  the  bleeding  neck  a  prominent 
object. 

30.  Return  the  sword ;  i.  e.  make  no  resistance,  for  it  will  be  vain. 

31.  I  will  blow  upon  thee;  i.  e.  to  increase  the  heat  of  the  fire. 

XXII.  4. — days  —  years;  i.  e.  appointed  for  thy  punishment,  for 
thy  captivity,  &c. 

5. — confusion:  such  as  tumults,  sedition,  violence. 

\0.  — uncover,  «S:c.  ;  i.  e.  by  criminal  intercourse  with  his  wife. 

12.  —  take  a  reward;  i.  e.  the  judges  are  bribed  to  condemn  the 
innocent  to  death. 

13. — smitten  my  hands ;  i.  e.  with  astonishment  and  indignation. 

15. — consume  thine  impurity;  thy  impure  citizens  shall  be  slain  or 
carried  captive. 


EZEKIEL.  369 

16. — he  profaned;  declared  impious  and  profane  by  the  punishment 
which  I  send  upon  you. 

2S.  —  daub,  &c.     See  xiii.  13-16. 

XXIII.  3.  —  m  Egypt.     See  xx.  8 

4.  —  Aholah ;  i.  e.  lier  tent,  or  tabernacle,  not  God's  dwelling-place. 
—  Akolibah ;  i.  e.  7ni/  tabernacle  is  in  her ;  in  reference  to  the  temple  in 
Jerusalem. 

14.  — men  portrayed.  By  these  are  not  to  be  understood  Babylonian 
gods  painted  in  human  form,  but  rather  Babylonian  princes,  with 
whom  the  Jews  were  led  to  form  alliances,  and  by  whom  they  were 
allured  to  idolatry. 

18.  — discovered ;  i.  e.  she  was  open  and  notorious  in  them. 

35.  —  bear  tkou  thy  lewdness;  i.  e.  the  consequences,  the  punishment 
of  it. 

40.  —  men  to  come  from  afar ;  i.  e.  not  content  with  domestic  super- 
stitions and  idolatries,  they  borrowed  many  from  foreigners,  such  as 
the  Assyrians  and  Chaldeans. 

42. — deep-drinkers,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  such  as  wasted  in  riot  Avhat  they 
obtained  by  plunder  in  the  deserts  of  Arabia. 

49. — bear  the  sins  of  your  idols;  i.  e.  suffer  punishment  for  the  sins 
which  you  committed  in  worshipping  idols. 

XXIV.  6. — bring  it  out, — let  no  lot,  &c.  Let  the  citizens,  without 
distinction  of  station,  age,  or  sex,  be  the  prey  of  the  enemy. 

12. — labors;  i.  e.  endeavors  to  cleanse  it. 

13.  —  quieted,  &c. ;  i.  e.  by  the  infliction  of  severe  punishments. 

17. — make  no  mourning,  &c. ;  i.  e.  to  be  a  sign  or  symbol  to  the 
Jews,  setting  forth  that,  in  the  destruction  of  the  city  and  its  inhab- 
itants, they  shall  not  have  opportunity  to  lament  their  dead. 

27. — speah,  and  be  no  more  dumb;  i.  e.  speak  freely  and  with  confi- 
dence, having  no  fear  of  ridicule  or  violence,  when  your  citizens  see 
your  former  predictions  fulfilled. 

XXV.  9. — open  the  side,  &c. ;  i.  e.  cause  the  territory  upon  his 
borders  to  be  invaded  or  passed  through. 

XXVI.  2.  — gate  of  the  nations.  Jerusalem  is  so  called  because 
immense  multitudes  resorted  thither  for  trafiic. 

4.  — scrape  off  her  earth,  &c.  The  entireness  of  her  destruction  is 
thus  set  forth.  Not  only  shall  her  edifices  be  destroyed,  but  the  very 
earth  on  which  she  stood  shall  be  removed,  and  nothing  but  bare  rock 
remain. 

6.  —  her  daughters  that  are  upon  the  land ;  i.  e.  the  cities  and  villages 
in  Phcenicia,  said  to  be  on  the  land  or  continent,  in  distinction  from 
Tyre,  which  was  upon  an  island  or  peninsula.     See  verse  17. 

11.  —  idols  of  thy  strength;    i.  e.  to  which  they   look    as    a   refuge, 
upon  wliich  they  rely  for  aid. 
16* 


370  NOTES. 

16.  —  sit  on  the  ground:  a  posture  expressive  of  grief. 

17. — peopled  from  the  seas;  i.  e.  to  which  people  came  from  every 
Bea. 

20. — in  the  land  of  the  living ;  i.  e.  the  laud  of  the  Jews,  who  shall 
be  living  and  prosperous  when  Tyre  is  in  the  lower  world. 

XXVII.  5.  — Senir:  a  part  of  the  ridge  of  mount  Herraon, 

6. — benches,  for  the  rowers.  — Chittceans ;  i.  e.  Cyprians,  inhabit- 
ants of  Cyprus  ;  or,  perhaps,  of  the  islands  and  coasts  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean. 

7.  Elisha;  i.  e.  Peloponnesus. 

8.  Arvad:  a  city  upon  an  island  of  the  same  name  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river  Eleutheros,  upon  the  coast  of  Phoenicia. 

9.  Gebal :  on  the  coast  of  Phoenicia,  called  by  the  Greeks  Byblos. 

13.  Javan:  Greece. —  Tubal:  the  Tibareni,  a  nation  of  Asia  Minor 
upon  the  Euxine  Sea.  —  Mesliech :  the  INIoschi,  a  barbarous  people  in- 
habiting the  mountains  between  Iberia,  Armenia,  and  Colchis.  — per- 
sons of  men  ;  i.  e.  slaves. 

14.  Togarmah :  Armenia,  or  a  part  of  it. 

15.  Dedan:  a  city  on  the  Persian  Gulf,  now  called  Daden. 

17.  Minnith:  a  town  upon  the  borders  of  the  Ammonites.  — syrup: 
Heb.  debash ;  the  unfermented  juice  of  the  grape  boiled  down  to  a 
syrup,  which  is  still  an  article  of  exportation  from  Palestine.  It  was 
probably  this  substance  which  was  carried  as  a  present  to  Pharaoh, 
since  genuine  honey  probably  abounded  in  Egypt.     Gen.  xliii.  11. 

19.  Vedan:  probably  the  name  of  a  place  in  Arabia.  See  Ges. 
ad  verb. 

21.  Kedar :  in  Arabia. 

22.  Shd)a:  in  Arabia  Felix. — Raamah :  a  city  of  Arabia  on  the 
Persian  Gulf. 

23.  Ilaran:  in  Mesopotamia,  Gen.  xi.  31 ;  Latin,  Carraz,  memora- 
ble for  the  defeat  of  Crassus,  which  there  occurred.  —  Canneh:  prob- 
ably the  same  as  Calneh,  a  great  city  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the 
Tigris,  subject  to  the  Assyrians,  called  by  the  Greeks  Ctesiphon.  — 
Eden:  a  region  of  Mesopotamia,  or  Assyria.  —  Chihnad:  the  name 
of  an  unknown  place. 

25.  Tarshish:  the  proper  name  of  a  city  and  country  in  Spain, 
Tartessus,  the  most  celebrated  emporium  in  the  West,  to  w^hich  the 
Hebrews  and  Phccnicians  traded,  situated  between  the  two  mouths  of 
the  river  Bretis  or  Guadalquivir. 

26.  — great  waters.     Compare  Horace,  Lib.  I.  Od.  xiv. 

XXVIII.  3. — art  iviser ;  i,  e.  in  thy  own  conceit. 

7.  —  beauty  of  thy  icisdom  ;  i.  e.  the  beautiful  things  procured  by  thy 
wisdom,  such  as  edifices,  wealth,  the  army,  &c. 

9.  —  7nan,  and  not  God,  &e. ;  i.  e.  mortal,  and  not  immortal.  The  term 
God  seems  here  to  be  used  in  a  generic  sense,  as  in  Is.  xxxi.  3. 
"  The  Egyptians  are  men,  and  not  God,  and  their  horses  are  flesh, 
and  not  spirit." 


EZEKIEL.  Oil 

10.  —  the  uncircnma'scd.  This  was  a  name  of  conicni]it  given  by 
the  Jews  to  other  nations.  Perhaps  it  may  here  be  used  to  denote 
the  impious,  the  uncircunioised  in  heart  and  flesh. 

13. — till/  jewel-holes:  the  holes  in  whieh  the  jewels  of  the  signet, 
verse  12,  were  set.  The  assertion  that  these  were  prepared  at  his 
birth,  intimates  that  so  many  ornaments  were  appointed  for  him. 

14.  —  cherub.  The  two  cherubs  were  of  beaten  gold,  and  covered 
the  mercy-seat  with  their  wings.  They  were  in  the  most  holy  place, 
and  there  was  access  to  them,  even  for  the  high-priest,  only  once  a 
year.  The  image,  therefore,  sets  forth,  that  the  king  of  Tyre  was 
regarded  with  a  reverence  almost  religious,  as  more  than  mortal. 
—  in  the  midst  of  the  stones  of  fire :  the  twelve  precious  stones  on  the 
breast-plate  of  the  high-priest,  which  shone  like  fire. 

17.  —  thy  splendor  ;  i.  e.  thy  prosperity. 

18. — thy  sanctuaries;  i.  e.  thy  palace,  which  was,  as  it  were, 
sacred  to  the  use  of  the  king. 

22. — am  sanctified  in  her ;  i.  e.  when  I  shall  show  that  I  am  holy 
and  just  by  the  punishment  I  inflict  upon  her. 

XXIX.  3.  — g7-eat  dragon.  The  crocodile  is  alluded  to,  which, 
among  the  ancients,  was  a  symbol  of  Egypt,  and  appears  so  on  Roman 
coins.  —  rivers.  The  Nile  had  seven  mouths.  Rivers  also  emptied 
themselves  into  it,  and  channels  were  cut  from  it. 

4. — fish,  &c.  Pharaoh  being  represented  by  the  crocodile,  his  sub- 
jects or  soldiers  are  represented  by  flsh. 

6. — staff"  of  reed.     Comp.  2  Kings  xviii.  21 ;  Is.  xxxvi.  6. 

10.  —  Mifjdol  eventoSyene:  the  former  being  in  the  northern,  the 
latter  in  the  southern,  part  of  Egypt. 

18. — made  bald:  by  the  helmet,  by  disease,  and  by  labor.  — peeled: 
worn,  galled,  by  bearing  burdens.  — had  wages;  i.  e.  they  found  no 
spoils  in  the  city,  the  Tyrians  having  carried  them  away  in  ships. 

21.  —  a  horn  to  grow  forth;  i.  e.  I  will  restore  to  Israel  their  former 
power  and  prosperity.  — to  open  the  mouth;  i.  e.  with  freedom  and  con- 
fidence, when  they  see  your  predictions  fulfilled. 

XXX.  5.  Chub:  in  Mareotis,  an  Egyptian  province,  according  to 
Ptolemy.  (Grotius.)  Gesenius  conjectures  that  the  reading  should  be 
JVub,  i.  e.  Nubia. 

9. — confident:  feeling  secure  from  danger. 

12. — rivers  dry :  upon  which  the  fertility  and  wealth  of  Egypt 
depend. 

13.  Noph;  i.  e.  Memphis. 

14.  Pathros ;  i.  e.  Thebais,  or  Upper  Egypt. — Zoan ;  i.  e.  Tanis, 
in  Lower  Egypt.  —  No;  i.  e.  Thebes.     See  note  on  Nah.  iii.  8. 

17.  On;  i.  e.  Heliopolis,  the  city  of  the  sun.  — Pibeseth,  in  Lower 
Egypt,  called  by  the  Greeks  Bubastis,-or  Bubastus. 

18.  Tahpanhes :  called  by  Herodotus  the  ]*elusiac  Daphne,  situ- 
ated on  the  v.cstern  side  of  the  Pelusiac  branch  of  the  Nile. 


372  NOTES. 

XXXI.  3.  —  tne  Assyrian.  Assyria,  mightier  than  Egypt,  Wis  laid 
waste  for  wickedness  and  impiety,  therefore  Egypt  might  be. 

4.  —  their  plantation;  i.  e.  the  plantation  on  the  banks  of  the  streams. 

10. — his  heart.  "This  allegory  is  boldly  pursued;  though  here, 
and  verses  11,  14,  1.5,  16,  17,  18,  its  imagery  is  not  supported  with  the 
scrupulous  accuracy  of  polished  writers."     Newcome. 

13.  — his  ruin;  i.  e.  his  fallen  trunk. 

14.  To  the  end,  &c. :  the  preceding  destruction  came  upon  him,  to 
the  end,  &c. 

15.  — covered  it :  as  it  were  with  sackcloth. 

16.  — were  comforted:  because  he  had  become  as  one  of  them.  See 
Is.  xiv.  10. 

XXXII.  2.  — dragon  in  the  seas  ;  i.  e.  the  crocodile  of  the  Nile. 

7.  —  cover  the  heavens :  with  black  clouds,  as  with  funeral  garments 
See  note  on  Is.  xiii.  10. 

9.  —  thi/  destruction  ;  i.  e.  the  tidings  of  thy  destruction. 

24.  Ehim :  a  province  of  Persia  of  which  Susa  was  the  capital,  Ez. 
iv.  9  ;  Dan.  viii.  2  ;  sometimes,  perhaps,  denoting  the  whole  of  Persia. 

27.  Ilaviufj  their  swords,  &c.  I  should  understand  by  this,  that  the 
swords,  which  they  once  wielded  so  powerfully,  were  lying  useless  un- 
der their  heads,  and  that  the  weapons,  the  instruments  of  their  iniqui- 
ty, Avhich  once  were  worn  upon  healthy  and  strong  bodies,  were  lying 
useless  upon  their  bones.  Others  suppose  the  meaning  to  be,  that 
they  were  interred  with  the  honors  of  war,  having  their  swords  placed 
under  their  heads,  but  that  their  iniquity,  i.  e.  the  punishment  of  their 
iniquity,  rested  upon  their  bones. 

28.  'And  thou,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  O  Egypt!     Comp.  verses  18-20. 

30.  —  of  the  North ;  i.  e.  the  Tyrians,  who  were  at  the  north  with 
respect  of  Egypt  and  Jud^a,  and  are  usually  associated  with  the  Sido- 
nians.  Perhaps  also  the  Syrian  kings  may  be  referred  to.  —  In  the 
midst,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  in  spite  of  the  terror  which  they  caused  by  their 
might. 

31.  —  comfort  himself;  i.  e.  by  seeing  so  many  companions  in  misfor- 
tune. 

XXXIII.  15.  — statutes  of  life;  i.  e.  to  the  observance  of  which  life 
is  pi'omised. 

24.  Abraham,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  If  Abraham,  a  single  individual,  increased 
into  so  great  a  multitude,  much  more  shall  we,  who  are  many,  be  mul- 
tiplied. 

31.  —  lovely ;  i.  e.  pleasing  to  God. 

XXXIV.  16. — the  fat  and  the  strong;  i.  e.  rich  and  powerful  op- 
pressors. 

25.  —  covenant  of  peace  ;  i.  e.  a  covenant  engaging  to  secure  peace  or 
prosperity. 

29.  — for  my  glory  ;  i.  e.  by  which  my  glory  shall  be  promoted. 


EZEKIEL.  373 

XXXV.  2.  Mount  Seir ;  i.  e.  the  mountuinous  coimlry  of  the 
Edomites,  extending  from  the  Dead  Sea  to  the  Elanitic  Gulf,  the 
northern  part  of  which  is  now  called  Djebal,  and  the  southern  El' 
Shera.     See  the  note  upon  Obadiah,  verse  3. 

5.  —  a  perpetual  hatred;  i.  e.  beginning  with  that  of  Esau  towards 
Jacob. 

10. — two  nations;  i.  e.  Israel  and  Judah. 

XXXVI.  2.  — everlasthg  heights;  i.  e.  the  mountains  of  Judtea  cele- 
brated by  ancient  fame. 

3.  — the  residue  of  the  nations;  i.  e.  the  nations  which  remained  uncon- 
quered  by  the  Babylonians. 

12.  —  bereave  them  of  children;  i.  e.  thy  inhabitants,  0  mountain,  shall 
no  more  perish  in  thy  defence. 

38. — flock  of  Jerusalem ;  i.  e.  as  the  numerous  flocks  assembled  in 
Jerusalem  for  sacrifices  during  the  solemn  festivals. 

XXXVII.  1-14.  It  appears  to  me  that  the  common  interpretation 
of  this  passage,  which  makes  the  resurrection  a  symbolical  representa- 
tion of  the  restoration  of  the  living  people  of  Israel,  is  far  more  prob- 
able than  that  which  understands  the  resurrection  in  a  literal  sense, 
as  defended  by  the  recent  German  commentator,  Hitzig,  and  by  Dr. 
Davidson  in  his  Introduction  to  the  Old  Testament.  It  seems  plain 
that  the  persons  whom  the  prophet  actually  addresses,  and  who  arc 
living  and  speaking,  are  those  who  are  to  receive  the  breath  of  life,  to 
be  brought  from  their  graves  and  placed  in  their  own  land,  ver.  11,  12, 
13.  Nothing  is  said  of  the  death  of  these  speaking  Israelites,  and 
therefore  the  prophet  cannot  refer  to  their  literal  resurrection.  If  the 
prophet  had  referred  to  the  literal  resurrection  of  any  Israelites,  he 
would  have  made  a  distinction  between  them  and  the  living  readers  or 
hearers  whom  he  addressed  in  his  prophecy.  To  resort  to  Persian 
theology  for  the  explanation  of  this  passage  is  AvhoUy  unnecessary. 

.  8,  9.  — breath;  i.  e.  life-breath,  the  spirit  or  principle  of  life. 

XXXVIII.  2.  Magog.  The  name  of  a  region,  and  of  a  great  and 
powerful  people,  dwelling  in  the  extreme  recesses  of  the  North.  Nearly 
the  same  people  seem  to  be  intended  as  were  comprehended  by  the 
Greeks  under  the  name  of  Scythians.  See  Ges.  ad  verb. — Rosh;  i.  e. 
without  much  doubt,  Hussia.     See  Ges.  ad  verb. 

4. — turn  thee  about;  i.  e.  I  will  manage  thee,  incline  thee  to  that 
which  I  have  in  view.  See  ch.  xxxix.  2.  So  Vatablus  in  Poole's  Sy- 
nopsis. 

6.  Gomer.  Probably  the  Cimmerians,  inhabiting  the  Chersonesus 
of  Taurica  and  the  adjacent  regions,  as  far  as  to  the  mouths  of  the 
Tanais  and  the  Ister.     See  Ges.  ad  verb. 

12.  — heights  of  the  earth;  i.  e.  Judaia,  which  its  inhabitants  regarded 
as  higher  than  all  other  lands. 

13.  —  merclia)it:>  ofTarshish;  i.  e.,  probably,  who  traded  to  Tarshish, 


874  NOTES. 

XXXIX.  9. — hum  the  iveapons :  as  was  customary  amongst  an- 
cient nations.     See  Virg.  JEn.  VIII.  561. 

16.  —  of  a  citij ;  i.  e.  to  be  built  near  the  great  burial-place. 

26.  —  forget  their  shame,  &c.  This  rendering  is  obtained  by  merely 
altering  the  diacritic  point.  To  hear  shame  and  trespasses  is  to  suffer 
the  punishment  of  them ;  a  meaning  which  is  not  at  all  suited  to  the 
connection, 

XL.  — XL VIII.  It  seems  to  me  that  the  only  proper  way  of  under- 
standing the  last  nine  chapters  in  Ezckiel  is  by  taking  his  description 
both  of  the  temple  and  the  state  in  a  literal  sense,  making  allowance 
of  course  for  occasional  figurative  language.  If  the  allegorical  intei-- 
pretation  be  adopted  and  the  whole  description  be  applied  to  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  it  must  be  remembered  that  such  a  meaning  never 
entered  the  Prophet's  mind.  See  a  good  discussion  of  this  subject  in 
Davidson's  Introduction  to  the  Old  Testament,  Vol.  III.  pp.  152-157. 

XL.  5. — of  a  cubit  and  a  handbreadth ;  i.  e.  six  cubits  which  were 
one  handbreadth  longer  than  a  common  cubit. 

9. — border;  i.e.  the  projecting  margin  which  surrounds  a  door, 
often  ornamented  with  columns  at  the  sides,  and  with  a  frieze  above. 
Sec  Ges.  Thesaur.  upon  the  Hebrew  word. 

10. — projecting  wall-pillars ;  i.  e.  projections,  juttings  out,  prominent 
parts  of  the  wall  in  the  front  of  an  edifice,  which  was  often  decorated 
with  columns  or  palms,  between  which  were  sunken  spaces  or  recesses 
m  the  wall,  where  the  windows  were  situated.     See  Ges.  Thesaur. 

14.  I  confess  that  I  do  not  understand  this  verse  in  its  architectural 
application.  It  is  probable  that  there  is  some  corruption  of  the  text. 
So  in  regard  to  some  other  versos,  I  have  thought  it  better  to  give  the 
best  meaning  to  the  text  as  it  now  stands,  than  to  indulge  in  conjec- 
tural emendations. 

16.  —  closrd  windows;  i.  c.  with  bars  or  lattices,  which,  being  let 
into  the  walls  or  beams,  could  not  be  opened  and  shut  at  jileasure. 
Ges.  — cornices;  i.  e.  projections,  which  appear  to  have  been  carried 
round  the  buihling.     See  Ges. 

43.  —  edging-boards.  TJiis  seems  to  denote  boards  provided  with 
hooks  to  which  the  victims  were  fastened. 

XLI.    1 .  —  the  temple  ;  i.  c.  the  body  or  nave  of  the  temple. 

8. — six  cubits  to  the  knuckles;  i.  e.  of  the  lesser  kind  of  cubits,  not 
so  long  as  another  kind  by  the  distance  from  the  knuckles  to  the 
end  of  the  fingers. 

24.  —  turning  leaves  f  i.  e.  turning  on  their  hinges. 

XLIII.  3.  — when  I  came  to  destroy;  i.  e.  to  predict  the  destruction  of, 
according  to  a  common  Hebrew  idiom.     See  ch.  xxxii.  1^  ;  Jer.  i.  10. 

7. — fornication;  i.  e.  idolatry.  See  ch.  xvi.  — diad  bodies.  "It 
seems  that  some  monuments  of  the  deceased  kings  were  evoctrd  near 


EZEKIEL.  375 

the  wall  which  surrounded  the  temple  and  the  courls.  This  vicinity 
WHS  regarded  as  a  profanation  of  the  temple."  —  Michaelis. 
.  13. — bottom;  i.  e.  the  base  of  the  altar,  extending  one  cubit  beyond 
the  breadth  of  the  altar.  According  to  others,  the  cavity  in  the  hearth 
where  the  fire  Avas  kept  burning ;  which  appears  to  be  less  suited  to  the 
connection  in  verses  14  and  17. 

XLIV.  19.  —  sanctifij,  &c.  Whatever  touched  anything  holy  was 
regarded  as  becoming  itself  holy,  and  no  longer  to  be  profaned  by 
common  use.     See  Ex.  xxx.  29  ;  Lev.  vi.  27. 

26.  —  they  shall  reckon ;  i.  e.  the  other  priests. 

28,  —  I  am  their  inheritance;  i.  e.  of  things  offered  to  God  they  shall 
have  an  abundance. 

XLV.  7. — every  one  of  the  portions ;  i.  e.  to  be  assigned  to  the  ad- 
joining tribes.     See  ch.  xlviii.  8. 

9. — expulsions;  i.  e.  expelling  my  people  from  their  homes,  their 
estates. 

12.  —  maneh,  or  mina.  The  meaning  may  be  that  there  shall  be 
three  kinds  of  maneh,  one  of  20,  one  of  25,  and  one  of  15  shekels,  or 
that  20-J-25  -|-  15  =  GO  shekels,  shall  be  one  maneh. 

XLVI.  17 .— of  liberty ;  i.  e.  of  jubilee,  when  slaves  were  set  at 
liberty.     See  Lev.  xxv.  10< 

XLVII.  8.  —  the  sea ;  i.  e.  the  Dead  Sea,  the  Sea  of  Sodom,  or 
Lake  Asphaltites.  Respecting  this  sea,  see  Robinson's  Calmet,  art. 
Sea,  and  Maundrell's  Journey,  &c.,  p.  140,  American  edition. 

15. — great  sea;  i.  e.  the  Mediterranean. — Hethlon.  For  infor- 
mation concerning  this  and  the  following  places,  see  Robinson's  Cal- 
met. 

XLVin.  18. — serve  the  city;  i.e.  perform  the  various  labors 
which  a  great  city  needs,  such  as  repairing  walls,  streets,  cleansing, 
&c. 

20.  —  offer  the  holy  oblation ;  i.  e.  separate  it,  consecrate  it. 

35.  Jehovah-is-there.  Jehovah  will  not  again  desert  them  ;  he  will 
be  with  them  for  their  protection  and  happiness.  The  meaning  of  the 
name  is  equivalent  to  that  of  the  name  given  to  the  city  of  Jerusalem 
by  Jeremiah,  xxxiii.  16,  "  Jehovah-is-our-salvation.'* 


376  NOTES 


NOTES   ON  HAGGAI. 


ELvGGAi  was  the  first  prophet  of  the  Jews  who  wrote  after  the  return 
from  the  captivity  at  Babylon.  It  appears  from  ch.  i.  1,  that  he  began 
to  prophesy  in  the  second  year  of  Darius,  the  son  of  Hystaspes,  king 
of  Persia,  or  about  five  hundred  and  twenty  years  before  Christ. 

The  Book  of  Haggai  contains  four  short  discourses,  designed  to  ex- 
cite the  people  to  go  on  in  the  building  of  the  new  temple,  and  in  the 
restoration  of  the  services  of  former  times.  The  circumstances  under 
which  he  wrote  are  to  be  learned  from  the  Book  of  Ezra,  ch.  v.  -  vi.  15. 

II.  7. — precious  tilings  of  all  the  nations.  This  is  the  rendering  of 
all  the  ancient  versions  except  the  Vulgate.  That  it  is  the  true  render- 
ing appears  to  me  plain  from  its  connection  with  the  preceding  line, 
comp.  verse  22,  and  with  the  "silver  and  gold"  mentioned  in  verse  8. 
The  vei'b  "shall  come"  is  plural  in  the  original,  which  I  cannot  well 
account  for,  if  its  nominative  be  singular,  referring  to  a  single  person- 
It  must  either  be  a  collective  noun,  or  pointed  so  as  to  be  in  the  plural 
form.  The  same  word  in  the  same  form  occurs  in  1  Sam.  ix.  20, 
which  should  be  thus  rendered,  as  it  seems  to  me,  and  as  the  Sept.  and . 
Vulg.  have  it:  "  Care  not  for  tliem  [the  asses],  for  they  are  found. 
And  to  whom  shall  all  the  valuable  things  in  Israel  belong  ?  shall  they 
not  to  thee,  and  to  thy  father's  house  1  "  Ewald  and  Hitzig  prefer 
the  rendering  the  choicest  of  all  the  nations,  which  is  admissible,  but 
seems  not  quite  so  well  suited  to  the  connection.  j\[oreover,  it  is  not 
agreeal)le  to  the  language  of  the  Jewish  prophets,  or  to  the  sentiments 
of  the  Jewish  people,  to  speak  of  the  Messiah  as  the  desire  of  aU  the 
nations.  Moreover,  it  is  not  susceptible  of  satisfactory  proof  that  the 
Messiah  was  the  object  of  such  general  desire  or  expectation  out  of 
Judaea,  as  that  he  might  be  called  the  desire  of  the  nations.  Besides, 
in  reference  to  the  application  of  this  prophecy  to  Jesus,  it  is  to  be 
remembered  that  he  did  not  appear  in  the  temple  here  spoken  of.  For 
Josc])hns  tells  us,  in  the  most  explicit  language,  that  this  temple  was 
pulled  down,  and  the  foundations  of  it  taken  away,  by  Herod  the  Great, 
who  built  a  larger  and  more  magnificent  one  in  its  place.  See  Jos. 
Ant.  XV.  11.  The  temple  in  which  Jesus  appeared  was  as  much  the 
third  temple,  as  that  built  in  the  time  of  Haggai  was  the  second.  In 
accordance  with  these  views  is  a  valuable  note  of  Dr.  Heberden,  in- 
serted by  Newcome,  ad  lac.  He  says,  at  the  close  of  it :  "  The  most 
plausible  objections  to  the  Christian  religion  have  been  made  out  of  the 
weak  arguments  which  have  been  advanced  in  its  support.  And  can 
there  be  a  weaker  argument  than  that  which  sets  out  with  doing  vio- 
lence to  the  original  text,  in  order  to  form  a  prophecy,  and  then  con- 
tradicts the  express  testimony  of  the  best  historian  of  those  tin.es,  in 


ZECHARIAH.  377 

order  to  show  tliat  it  lias  been  accomplished  1 "  Calvin,  the  Reformer, 
Adam  Clarke,  the  Methodist,  Hou^gant  and  Jahn,  the  Catholics,  and 
Newcome,  the  Episcopalian,  agree  in  adopting  the  meaning  which  I 
have  assigned  to  the  word  in  question. 

12. — shall  it  he  holy?  So  the  priests,  by  bringing  oblations  to  tho 
altar,  while  the  building  of  tho  temple  was  neglected,  i.  9,  did  not 
sanctify  you. 

14.  So  is  this  people;  i.  e.  their  neglect  of  the  temple  makes  them 
unclean,  as  if  they  had  contracted  legal  pollution  by  touching  a  dead 
body. 

23.  —  as  a  signet-ring:  under  very  peculiar  care.  See  Cant.  viii.  6; 
Jer.  xxii.  24. 


NOTES   ON  ZECHARIAH. 

Zechariah,  a  name  signifying  "  Jehovah  remembers,"  the  son  of 
Barachiah,  the  son  of  Iddo,  was  a  contempoi'ary  of  Haggai,  coming 
forward  as  a  prophet  only  one  month  later.  In  Ezra  vi.  14,  he  is 
called  the  son  of  Iddo,  according  to  the  well-known  unlimited  signifi- 
cation of  the  term  son  in  the  Hebrew  idiom ;  the  meaning  being,  that 
he  was  a  descendant ;  i.  e.  the  grandson  of  Iddo,  who  was  probably  a 
more  distinguished  person  than  the  father  of  the  prophet. 

Tlie  Book  of  Zechariah  consists  of  two  parts,  remarkably  distin- 
guished from  each  other  in  regard  both  to  their  subject  and  their 
style.  The  first  part,  ch.  i. -viii.,  forms  a  whole,  consisting  of  a 
series  of  visions  or  symbols,  described  in  prose,  and  all  relating  to  the 
re-establishment  of  the  Jewish  commonwealth  and  temple.  The  sec- 
ond part,  ch.  ix.  —  xiv.,  has  reference  to  circumstances  and  events 
entirely  diflferent,  and  contains  no  symbols.  Its  language  also  is  some- 
what poetic,  and  marked  by  the  Hebrew  rhythm  or  parallelism. 

In  consequence  of  these  circumstances,  many  writers,  English  and 
German,  have  supposed  the  second  part  of  the  book  to  be  the  produc- 
tion of  a  more  ancient  prophet  than  Zechariah.  The  first,  so  far  as  I 
know,  who  maintained  this  opinion  was  Dr.  Joseph  Mede,  —  who  died 
in  1630,  —  in  his  remarks  on  Matt,  xxvii.  9, 10  (Epist.  XXXI. ).  His 
opinion  is  adopted  by  Archbishop  Newcome,  who,  in  his  notes  upon  this 
prophet,  makes  copious  extracts  from  the  note  of  Dr.  Mede.  The  ar- 
guments of  Dr.  Mede  seem  to  be  quite  conclusive ;  but  some  eminent 
ci-itics  have  supposed  that  there  are  indications  of  the  age  of  Zechariah 
in  the  language  and  allusions  of  the  second  part.  It  has  also  been 
maintained  with  arguments  of  considerable  weight,  that  ch.  ix.  -  xi.  are 
by  a  diflferent  author  from  the  writer  of  ch.  xii.  -  xiv.     The  former 


378  NOTES. 

may  have  been  written  in  the  time  of  Uzziah  or  Ahaz ;  the  latter,  some 
time  after  the  death  of  Josiah.     Scg  xii.  11. 

I.  8.  —  a  man;  i,  e.  an  angel  in  human  form.  See  verse  11.  — red, 
fox-colored,  and  white.  "  The  angels  had  horses,  to  show  their  power 
and  celerity ;  and  horses  of  different  colors,  to  denote  the  ditference  in 
their  ministries,"     Newcome. 

14. — jealous  for;  i.  e.  ardently  devoted  to  her  and  engaged  in  her 
behalf. 

16. — a  measuring -line  shall  be  stretclied  foii.h ;  i.  e.  to  measure  the 
ground  upon  which  the  city  should  be  rebuilt. 

18.  — four  horns:  common  emblems  of  power  in  the  Old  Testament. 
Perhaps  the  number  four  is  here  used,  to  denote  that  the  Jews  were 
surrounded  by  hostile  powers,  or  threatened  by  enemies  from  the  four 
quarters  of  the  earth,  who  had,  as  it  were,  pushed  at,  tossed,  and 
wounded  them. 

II.  3.  —  the  angel  who  talked  with  me.  "A  notion  has  been  enter- 
tained, that  the  angel  who  talked  with  Zechariah,  and  interpreted  to 
him,  was  no  other  than  Jehovah  himself,  the  second  person  in  the 
blessed  Trinity.  In  examining  some  passages  which  follow,  I  think  it 
will  appear  to  be  without  sufficient  foundation.  In  the  mean  time  let 
me  observe,  that  here  he  is  not  only  called  simply  an  angel,  (that  is, 
'a  ministering  spirit,'  as  the  Apostle  to  the  Hebrews  explains  the 
term,  expressly  contrasting  it  with  'the  Son,'  Heb.  i,  14,)  but  he  is 
addressed  by  the  other  angel,  not  as  a  superior,  but  as  a  fellow-servant, 
to  whom  he  delivers  orders  as  from  a  common  master :  <  Run,  speak 
to  that  young  man,'  "  &,c.     Blayncy. 

6.  Ho!  ho!Jlee,&.c.  "This  beautiful  apostrophe  is  addressed  to 
such  of  tlie  Jews  as  continued  still  to  dwell  in  Babylon,  and  the  ad- 
jacent country  lying  to  the  north  of  Jerusalem,  exhorting  them  not 
only  to  come,  but  to  make  their  escape  with  all  possible  speed  from  a 
land  which  God  was  about  to  make  the  scene  of  his  vengeance." 
Blayney. 

8.  For  thus  saith,  &c.  The  words  which  immediately  follow.  For 
glory,  &c.,  are  not  those  of  Jehovah,  but  of  the  angel,  verse  3.  But 
in  the  course  of  the  passage,  8-11,  some  language  occurs  which  is 
approi)riate  to  Jehovah.  The  words  of  the  messenger  and  him  that 
sent  him  seem  to  be  used  interchangeably,  as  elsewhere  in  the  Scrip- 
tures. Respecting  this  usage,  see  Christian  Examiner  for  May,  1836, 
p.  222.  —  For  glory :  mentioned  in  verse  5, 

9.  —  shake  my  hand,  &c. ;  i.  e.  as  one  that  inflicts  stripes. 

10.  —  dwell  in  tJie  midst  of  thee;  i.  e.  as  thy  powerful  defender.  See 
verse  5. 

10,  1 1 .  —  "  Hitherto  nothing  has  appeared  to  indicate  the  angel  to 
be  more  than  what  the  name  usually  imports,  an  ordinary  messenger 
of  God's  will,  and  the  agent  of  his  providence.  Nor  will  it  appear 
otherwise  from  these  two  verses,  if  we  attend  to  the  proper  distiuctioa 


ZECHARIAH.  379 

between  what  the  angel  speaks  in  his  own  person,  and  wliat  he  deliv- 
ers as  the  immediate  words  of  God.  He  first  begins  to  exhort  in  his 
own  person,  '  Sing  and  rejoice,  O  daughter  of  Zion  !  for  Jehovah  hath 
said ' ;  he  then  repeats  as  the  words  of  Jehovah,  *  Behold,  I  am  coming, 
and  I  will  dwell  in  the  midst  of  thee  ;  and  many  nations  shall  be  joined 
unto  Jehovah  in  that  day,  and  shall  become  a  people  unto  me ;  and  I 
will  dwell  in  the  midst  of  thee.'  Having  thus  finished  what  Jehovah 
had  spoken,  he  adds,  from  himself,  '  Then,'  when  these  things  come  to 
pass,  '  thou  shalt  know  that  Jehovah  of  hosts  hath  sent  me  unto  thee '; 
as  verse  9."  Blayney.  On  the  subject  of  the  angel  of  Jehovah,  see 
an  article  in  the  Christian  Examiner  for  May,  1836. 

12. — as  his  portion:  and  of  course  will  defend  them,  as  a  man  will 
his  own  possessions. 

13.  Be  silent,  &c.  Since  Jehovah  is  about  to  undertake  the  deliver- 
ance of  his  people  from  their  enemies,  let  all  mankind  fear  before  him. 

—  For  he  riseth  up,  &c.  God  is  said  to  sleep,  when  he  suffers  his  peo- 
ple to  be  harassed  with  impunity ;  and  to  arise  as  one  awaked  from 
sleep,  when  he  punishes  their  enemies.  Ps.  xliv.  23.  — his  holy  habi- 
tation; i.  e.  heaven.     See  Deut.  xxvi.  15;  Jer.  xxv.  30. 

III.  1.  —  the  adversary ;  i.  e.  the  evil  spirit,  who,  according  to  the 
later  theology  of  the  Jews,  seduces  men  to  evil  and  accuses  them  before 
God ;  in  which  latter  employment  he  is  here  represented  as  engaged. 
Corap.  Job,  eh.  i.,  ii. ;  Rev.  xii.  10.  See  also  Christian  Examiner 
for  May,  1836,  p.  236. 

2.  And  Jehovah  said;  i.  e.  the  same  person  who  is  called  the  angel 
of  Jehovah  in  verse  1  ;  called  Jehovah,  because  he  represented  the 
person,  was  imbued  with  the  spirit,  and  spake  in  the  name  of  Jehovah. 

—  a  brand  plucked  out  of  the  fire:  i.  e.  God,  who  has  just  saved  Joshua 
from  the  calamities  of  exile,  will  not  suffer  him  to  be  overwhelmed 
with  accusations  and  calumnies. 

3.  — filthy  garments.  It  appears  from  verse  4  that  these  denote  sins. 
These  sins  may  have  been  some  well-known  offences  of  which  the 
high-priest  had  been  guilty,  and  of  which  he  had  been  publicly  accused, 
and  which  are  forgiven,  verse  4.  But  the  whole  representation  may  be 
emblematical ;  what  was  done  to  Joshua  being  a  sign,  verse  8,  of  what 
is  promised  in  verse  9,  "  I  will  remove  the  iniquity  of  this  land  in  one 
day." 

7.  — guides :  i.  e.  I  will  give  thee  angels  for  thy  leaders  and  guard- 
ians. 

8.  —  the  Branch :  perhaps,  more  strictly,  the  shoot  or  sprout,  not  a 
part  of  the  tree,  but  springing  out  of  the  earth,  or  from  the  root  or 
stem  of  a  tree  that  is  cut  down.  It  denotes  the  Messiah.  See  vi.  12; 
Jer.  xxiii.  5;  xxxiii.  15.  The  Messiah  may  be  called  the  shoot,  in 
reference  to  his  descent  from  David,  as  in  the  passages  in  Jeremiah 
just  referred  to,  or  in  reference  to  his  being,  in  a  peculiar  sense,  the 
offspring  of  God,  that  is,  a  divinely  endowed  king.  Some  suppose 
Zerubbabcl  t)  be  denoted.     But  he  was  the  leader  of  those  who  camo 


880  NOTES. 

from  Babylon,  Ez.  ii.  2 ;  whereas  one  that  was  to  come  seems  to  be 
here  spoken  of. 

9.  —  the  stone;  i.  e.  the  corner-stone  of  the  temple,  which  was  laid  in 
the  presence  of  Joshua.  See  ch.  iv.  7-  10.  — seven  eyes;  i.  e.  of  Je- 
hovah; see  ch.  iv  10  ;  i.  e.  the  eyes  of  Jehovah  shall  be  intently  fixed 
upon  that  stone ;  Grod  will  watch  over  the  foundation  of  the  temple, 
and  favor  its  erection. 

IV.  2. — chandelier.  In  verse  12,  certain  circumstances  are  men- 
tioned which  make  the  description  of  the  chandelier,  or  lamp-bearer, 
more  complete.  We  have  here  a  description  of  the  stem  or  shaft  of 
the  chandelier,  surmounted  by  a  bowl,  to  contain  the  oil  for  the  nour- 
ishment of  the  lamps,  which  were  at  the  extremities  of  seven  pipes, 
branching  out  from  the  bowl  or  reservoir.  In  verse  12  we  find  that 
the  bowl  or  reservoir  was  constantly  supplied  with  oil  from  the  two 
olive-trees,  by  means  of  two  tubes  connected  with  it  and  with  two 
branches  of  the  olive-trees. 

7. — great  mountain:  a  metaphorical  expression,  denoting  the  obsta- 
cles which  hindered  the  building  of  the  temple. — Grace,  grace,  &c. ; 
i.  e.  May  the  favor  of  God  prosper  it,  and  the  temple  to  be  built  upon 
it,  and  those  that  are  to  worship  in  it. 

10.  —  day  of  small  things;  i.  e.  "the  time  when  the  resources  of  the 
Jewish  nation  appeared  in  the  eyes  of  many,  even  well-wishers,  so 
small  and  inadequate  to  the  building  of  the  temple  against  a  powerful 
oi)position,  that  they  despaired  of  seeing  it  carried  into  effect.  Such 
persons  would  of  course  rejoice,  when  the  event  turned  out  so  contrary 
to  their  expectations."  Blayncy.  — shcdl  the  plummet,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  he 
shall  be  seen  engaged  in  building  the  temple.  —  the  eyes  of  Jehovah : 
symbols  of  his  universal,  watchful  providence.     See  ch.  iii.  9. 

12.  — empty  the  golden  oil  out  of  themselves ;  i.  e.  into  the  two  tubes,  or 
canals,  which  conduct  it  to  the  bowl  or  reservoir. 

14.  — two  anointed  ones  ;  i.  e.  king  and  priest,  who  shall  not  fail  to 
be  raised  up,  to  stand  before  the  Lord,  &c. ;  i.  e.  to  be  his  ministers,  ser- 
vants, instruments  of  his  mercy.  See  1  Kings  xvii.  1 ;  xviii.  15  ;  Deut. 
X.  8  ;  Judg.  XX.  28  ;  Ps.  cxxxiv.  1. 

V.  1. — flying  roll;  i.  e.  like  that  which  Ezekiel  describes,  ch.  ii. 
9,  10,  filled  with  curses,  and  in  the  act  of  flying,  to  denote  the  celerity 
and  speed,  as  well  as  the  certainty,  with  which  the  thief  and  the  false 
swearer  would  receive  their  merited  punishment. 

6.  —  an  ephah,  &c.  :  a  measure  containing  about  a  bushel  and  a 
half  of  our  measure  ;  here  used  to  denote  a  large  measure  in  the  form 
of  an  ephah.  It  may  denote,  that  before  the  Jews  went  into  captivity 
they  had  filled  up  the  measure  of  their  iniquity.  The  design  of  the 
vision  being  to  warn  the  Jews,  that,  as  the  Babylonish  captivity  had 
happened  on  account  of  the  wickedness  of  their  ancestors,  a  similar 
fate  awaited  them,  if  they  relapsed  into  similar  crimes.  — their  image; 
i.  e.  that  which  they  resemble ;  i.  e.  the  ephah,  including  what  was 
contained  in  it,  set  forth  the  wicked  Jcwsh  people. 


ZECHARIAH.  381 

7.  — talent  of  lead;  i.  e.  a  piece  of  lead  of  a  talent  in  weight,  large 
enough  to  cover  the  mouth  of  the  ephah,  verse  8.  It  may  have  been 
lifted  up  from  the  cphah,  or  brought  thither  to  cover  it. 

8.  —  the  Wickedness  :  this  represents  the  wicked  Jewish  nation. 

9.  —  two  women:  some  suppose  the  Assyrians  and  Babylonians  to  be 
denoted  ;  others,  that  the  women  are  symbols  to  denote  the  agents  of 
Divine  Providence. 

11.  To  build  it  a  house;  i.  e.  to  give  it  a  permanent  residence. 
—  Shinar ;  i.  e.  the  countiy  around  Babylon.  — upon  its  base;  i.  e. 
80  as  to  remain  fixed  and  immovable. 

VI.  1,2. — four  chariots.  In  verse  5  these  chariots  are  said  by 
the  interpreting  angel  to  denote  the  four  winds  of  heaven  ;  which, 
being  personified  as  agents  of  the  Divine  judgments,  are  said  to  stand 
before  God,  i.  e.  as  his  ministers,  servants.  See  Jer.  xlix.  36.  The 
color  of  the  horses  denotes  the  ministry  in  which  they  were  to  be-  en- 
gaged :  red,  the  color  of  blood,  denoting  war  and  destruction  ;  black,  de- 
noting woe  ;  and  white,  victory.  As  no  significant  color  remained  for 
the  fourth  horse,  he  gives  him  a  color  compounded  of  that  of  the  others, 
and  of  like  signification,  and  adds  the  epithet  strong,  active,  or  fleet,  as 
his  distinction. 

5.  Winds.  It  is  difficult  to  say  whether  the  Avinds,  personified 
as  agents  of  Divine  Providence,  are  denoted  by  the  term,  or  actual 
persons,  that  is,  angels  having  charge  of  the  four  winds.  Comp. 
Apoc.  vii.  1. 

8.  —  execute  my  wrath:  lit.  quiet  my  lorath  ;  i.  e.  satisfy  it,  satiate  it, 
by  the  infliction  of  punishment,  as  appears  from  the  use  of  the  expres- 
sion. See  Ezek.  v.  13 ;  xvi.  42.  So,  in  Ezek.  vi.  12,  he  is  said  to  ac- 
complish his  fury. 

11.  —  a  crown.  The  original  word  is  in  the  plural  foi'm ;  but  this 
may  be  because  the  crown  was  composed  of  various  parts,  or  as  the 
plural  of  excellence.  In  verse  14  it  is  connected  with  a  singuhir  verb. 
I  think  the  main  design  of  this  vision  is,  not  to  represent  the  union  of 
the  kingly  and  priestly  offices  in  the  person  of  the  Messiah  by  two 
crowns,  but  to  give,  for  the  encouragement  of  the  Jews,  a  promise  of 
the  Messiah,  as  he  is  commonly  represented.  I  doubt  whether  the 
priestly  office  would  naturally  be  represented  by  a  crown.  If  this 
office  is  set  forth  emblematically  in  this  vision,  it  is  by  placing  the  crown 
upon  the  head  of  Joshua,  the  high-priest.  It  is  mentioned  in  plain 
language  in  verse  13. 

12.  —  the  Branch.  "  There  cannot  be  a  doubt  that  the  same  person 
is  meant  by  the  Branch  here  who  is  so  called  in  iii.  8,  and  this  lias 
already  been  shown  to  be,  not  Zerubbabel,  but  the  Messiah  himself  ; 
of  whom  Joshua  is  made  a  type  by  the  crown  placed  on  his  head. 
But  to  what  end  should  he  have  been  called  in  to  represent  Zerubba- 
bel, who  was  his  contemporary,  and  altogether  as  ready  at  hand  as 
himself?"  Blayncy.  — spring  up.  Imitating  the  Hebrew  paronoma- 
sia, we  might  translate  branch  up.     Another  rendering  is,  And  under 


382  NOTES. 

him  shall  spring  up;  i.  e.  a  luxuriant  growth  shall  spring  up  wherever 
he  treads. 

13. — the  majesty;  i.  e.  the  insignia  of  royalty.  — upon  his  throne; 
i.  e.  as  I  understand  it,  the  throne  of  Jehovah,  namely,  the  throne  of 
Israel.  Thus  it  is  said,  1  Chron.  xxix.  23,  "  And  Solomon  sat  upon 
the  throne  of  Jehovah."  It  appears  to  me  that  Zechariah  had  in  view 
the  hundred  and  tenth  Psalm,  in  which  to  sit  at  the  right  hand  of 
Jehovah  means  to  be  the  visible  king  of  Israel  under  Jehovah,  their 
supreme  king,  "who  reigned  in  Zion  and  whose  dwelling-place  was 
in  Jerusalem."  See  Christian  Examiner  for  January,  1836,  p.  280, 
et  seq.  So  the  land  of  Israel  is  called  the  land  of  Jehovah,  ch.  ix. 
16.  My  principal  reason  for  referring  the  pronoun  "  his  "  to  Jehovah 
is  the  last  line,  "  And  the  counsel  of  peace  shall  be  between  them 
both,"  which  I  understand  to  mean  that  Jehovah  and  the  Messiah 
shall  both  be  engaged  in  devising  peace  and  happiness  for  Israel.  So 
in  ch.  xiii.  7,  Jehovah  calls  the  king  of  Israel  "  my  fellow."  I  cannot 
persuade  myself  that  the  phrase  "  counsel  of  peace,"  according  to  He- 
brew usage,  denotes  merely  harmonious  feeling,  according  to  Michaelis, 
De  Wettc,  and  others  ;  or  that  "  between  both  "  means  between  king 
and  priest  united  in  one  person,  or  between  the  regal  and  priestly 
offices,  taking  "  both  "  in  a  neuter  sense,  with  Kosenmueller.  I  think 
this  "  counsel  of  peace  "  must  have  been  between  two  substantial  per- 
sons ;  and,  as  I  have  before  intimated,  the  circumstances  under  which 
the  vision  was  uttered  lead  us  to  suppose  that  the  main  design  of  it 
was  to  give,  for  the  encouragement  of  the  people,  a  sensible,  emblematic 
representation  of  the  coming  of  the  king  Messiah,  called  a  priest, 
agreeably  to  the  language  of  Ps.  ex.  In  the  above  explanation  of  the 
last  verse,  I  differ  from  any  of  the  modern  critics  which  I  have  seen. 
I  find  the  explanation  which  I  prefer  ascribed  to  De  Dieu  in  Poole's 
Synopsis. 

14.  Ilelem:  the  same  as  Ileldai,  and  Hen,  the  same  as  Josiah, 
verse  10.  The  crown,  while  it  answers  its  main  purpose  as  an  em- 
blem of  the  Messiah,  shall  also  be  a  memorial  of  the  liberality  of  those 
who  contributed  its  materials. 

15.  —  build  in  the  temple:  assist  the  Jews  in  building  the  temple. 

VII.    1.    CAis/eu ;  which  corresponded  nearly  with  our  December. 

5. — Jijlh  month  —  seventh  month.  In  the  fifth  month  the  city  and 
temple  were  destroyed  by  the  Babylonians.  In  the  seventh  month 
Gedaliah  was  assassinated,  and  the  Jews  that  were  with  him  disj)ersed 
into  Egypt.  See  2  Kings  xxv.  8-10,  25.  In  commemoration  of 
these  calamities,  fasts  had  been  instituted.  — for  me;  i.  e.  for  my 
honor,  or  at  my  command. 

6. — eat  and  drink;  i.  e.  at  festivals.  — is  it  not  ye,  &c. ;  i.  e.  have 
I  required  it  at  your  hands,  or  do  I  derive  benefit  from  it,  or  do  ye 
really  honor  me  in  it  ?  The  sentiment  seems  to  be,  that  God  required 
of  them  what  he  required  of  their  fathers,  namely,  moral  righteousness, 
mercy,  and  obedience,  rather  than  sacrifice  and  ceremony.  See  Is,  ch. 
i.,  Iviii. ;  Jer.  ch.  vii. 


ZECfHARIAH  383 

7.  —  the  South ;  i.  e.  the  southern  part  of  Palestine.  —  the  Plain ;  i.  e. 
the  low  country  on  the  coast  of  the  Mediten-anean. 

11. — a  refractory  shoulder.  Bur^lens  are  usually  borne  upon  the 
shoulder.  Hence,  the  expression  to  turn  or  sliow  a  refractory  shoulder 
means  to  refuse  the  appointed  burden,  that  is,  to  disobey. 

VIII.  2. — jealousy.  See  note  to  eh.  i.  14.  — with  great  wrath; 
i.  e.  against  her  oppressors. 

3. — a  city  of  truth.  See  Zeplr.  iii.  13.  — the  holy  mountain:  on 
which  shall  be  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  not  ag-ain  to  be  profaned  by 
foreign  enemies  on  account  of  domestic  wickedness.     See  Joel  iii.  17. 

5. — playi7ig  in  her  streets:  which  implies  a  state  of  peace  and  securi- 
ty.    Comp.  verse  10. 

8.  In  truth  and  in  righteousness.  These  words  apply  to  the  people, 
as  well  as  to  God.  God  ^vill  fulfil  his  promises,  and  they  shall  be  his 
people,  not  in  name  and  profession  merely,  but  be  in  sincerity  and  truth 
devoted  to  him. 

10.  — 710  recompense,  &c. ;  i.  e.  there  was  no  profit  from  the  labor  of 
man  or  beast. 

13. — a  curse  —  a  blessing;  i,  e.  as  the  nations,  in  imprecating  calam- 
ities, once  said,  "  May  ye  be  as  miserable  as  the  Jews ! "  so  they  shall 
say  hereafter,  "  May  ye  be  as  happy  as  the  Jews  !  " 

16.  — in  your  gates;  i.  e.  your  courts  of  justice.  See  Deut.  xxi.  19  ; 
xxii.  15;  and  note  on  Job  xxix.  7.  Mr.  Lowth  has  an  important  re- 
mark on  these  two  verses  (16,  17),  —  that  the  promises  made  to  the 
Jews  after  the  captivity  were  conditional. 

21.     /  will  go  also ;  i.  e.  one  shall  say  so  to  another. 

23. — ten  men;  i.  e.  many  men.  — the  skirt:  in  the  manner  of  one 
who  desires  to  go  with  another,  and  will  hardly  take  a  refusal.  To 
take  hold  of  the  skirt  seems  also  to  have  been  a  gesture  used  in  ear- 
nestly asking  protection  and  aid  of  any  kind.  See  Is.  iii.  6 ;  iv.  1  ; 
1  Sam.  XV.  27. 

IX.    1.     Hadrach:  name  of  a  city  and  region  east  of  Damascus. 

2. — though  she:  This  pronoun  probably  refers  to  Tyre,  which 
is  elsewhere  represented  as  boasting  of  her  wisdom.  See  Ezekiel 
xxviii.  3. 

7.  —  blood  —  abominations;  i.e.  eating  the  flesh  of  animals,  offered 
to  idols  with  the  blood.  — for  our  God;  i.  e.  shall  become  his  wor- 
shipper, professing  the  Jewish  religion.  — a  governor  in  Judah ;  i.e. 
head  of  a  family  or  tribe.  The  meaning  seems  to  be,  that  the  Philis- 
tines shall  be  a  part  of  the  Jewish  people  with  a  phylarch  at  their  head. 
—  a  Jebusite:  a  poetical  denomination  of  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem 
without  distinction. 

8. — seen  with  my  own  eyes;  i.  e.  the  oppression  of  the  Jews  by  their 
enemies.     Comp.  Ex.  iii.  7. 

9.  Mild,  and  riding  upon  an  ass.  I  suppose  the  mild,  pacific  dis- 
position of  the  Messiah,  rather  than  his  humility,  to  be  particularly 


884  NOTES'. 

denoted  by  the  adjective,  and  by  the  circumstance  of  his  riding  upon 
an  ass.  It  seems  to  have  been  appropriate  to  princes  or  magistrates  to 
ride  upon  asses,  especially  white  asses.  See  Judges  v.  10 ;  x.  4  ;  xii. 
14;  but  it  was  a  sign  of  peace  to  ride  upon  an  ass  rather  than  a  war- 
horse.  This  explanation  is  supported  by  what  follows  in  the  next 
verse.  It  may  be  added,  that  the  Oriental  ass  is  more  stately,  active, 
and  lively  than  that  of  Northern  countries.  See  Robinson's  Calmet, 
Art.  Ass. 

11.  As  for  thee;  i.e.  Jerusalem,  Judrea.  — blood-sealed  covenant ; 
i.  e.  the  covenant  anciently  made  with  the  Jewish  people,  and  ratified 
by  the  sprinkling  of  blood.  See  Ex.  xxiv.  8.  — pit,  or  cistern,  ivho'e- 
in  is  no  water;  i.  e.  a  prison;  comp.  Jer.  xxxviii.  6;  i.  e.  from  oppres- 
sion, or  captivity,  or  great  distress. 

12.  Return  ye  to  the  strong-hold;  i.  e.  either  to  Zion  or  Jerusalem,  as 
under  the  protection  of  the  Almighty ;  or  to  a  state  of  safety,  deliv- 
erance.    — priso7iers  of  hope;  i.  e.  prisoners  hoping   for   deliverance. 

—  /  lo'dl  restore  double;  i.  e.  prosperity  and  happiness  which  they  lost. 
Comp.  Is.  Ixi.  7. 

13.  1  will  bend  Judah,  &c. ;  i.  e.  I  will  employ  Judah  and  Ephraim 
as  my  instruments  of  destruction. 

14.  — whirlwinds  of  the  South:  which  were  the  most  violent.  See  Is. 
xxi.  1  ;  Job  xxxvii.  9. 

15. — devour ;  i.  c.  destroy  their  enemies  like  wild  beasts.  — the  sling- 
stones:  they  shall  disregard  them,  as  inflicting  no  injury.  — drink;  i.  e. 
the  blood  of  the  slain.  The  metaphor  is  still  borrowed  from  beasts  of 
prey,  and  denotes  merely  that  the  Jews  should  shed  copiously  the  blood 
of  their  enemies.  — a  bowl:  used  to  contain  the  blood  of  victims  of- 
fered upon  the  altar.  — cornei's,  &c. :  which  the  priest  used  to  sprinkle 
with  blood. 

17.  Corn,  &c.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  observe,  that  the  arrange- 
ment of  this  line  is  Hebraistic,  denoting  that  an  abundance  of  corn 
and  wine  should  make  the  young  men  and  maidens  thrive  who  gath- 
ered them  in. 

X.  2.  —  the  teraphim;  i.  e.  the  household  gods,  the  Penates  of  the 
Hebrews,  which  appear  to  have  been  of  human  form  and  size,  at  least 
60  far  as  the  head  or  upper  part  of  the  body  is  concerned,  (1  Sam.  xix. 
13,  16,)  and  to  have  been  consulted  as  oracles. 

3.  —  shepherds  —  bucks:  the  kings  and  principal  leaders  of  the  people. 

—  goodly  horse:  such  a  horse  as  for  his  extraordinary  qualities  is 
chosen  and  equipped  as  the  war-horse  of  the  general.  The  meaning 
therefore  is,  that  the  house  of  Judah  shall  be  thoroughly  prepared  to 
meet  their  enemies. 

4.  From  him ;  i.  e.  from  Judah.  —  the  corner-stone :  the  state  being 
considered  as  an  edifice,  the  corner-stone  will  represent  the  head  or 
ruler  of  it.  — the  nail:  an  important  appendage  to  an  ancient  build 
ing  (see  Is.  xxii.  23,  and  note)  will  represent  those  next  in  authority 
to  the  chief.    — tlie  battle-bow;  i.  e.  the  military  commanders,  or  forces. 


ZECHARIAH,  385 

5.  —  the  riders  on  horses;  i.  e.  the  eneinics  of  the  Jews,  who  were 
themselves  unskilled  in  horsemanship.     See  Is.  xxxvi.  8,  and  note. 

7.  And  their  sons  ;  i.  e.  not  only  themselves,  but  their  posterity. 

8.  —  whistle  for  them;  i.  e.  utter  a  shrill  sound  to  call  them  together. 
Whistle  may  not  denote  the  exact  sound. 

11.  And  he  shall  pass  through  the  sea  of  distress,  &c.  The  natural 
construction  is  to  make  the  subject  of  pass  tJirongh  and  smite  the  same, 
viz.  Jehovah ;  and  this  is  made  probable  by  tlic  circumstance  that  the 
consequence  of  both  is  not  the  deliverance  of  Israel,  but  the  ruin  of 
E<;ypt  and  Assyria.  Comp.  xiv.  3.  The  Euphrates  and  the  Nile  seem 
to  be  denoted.  Otherwise,  he  shall  pass  tlirotujh  means  Israel  shall  pass 
through,  &c.,  and  he,  God,  shall  smite,  &c. 

12.  —  through  Jehovah;  i.  e.  myself:  the  noun  being  used  for  the  pro- 
noun, according  to  a  common  Hebrew  idiom. 

XI.  1. — Lebanon:  here  used  as  an  emblem  of  the  land  or  people 
of  the  Jews. 

2.  —  the  cedar  falleth :  and,  of  course,  less  noble  trees  will  not  be 
spared. 

3. — their  glorij ;  i.e.  the  high  trees,  under  which  they  sheltered 
themselves.  — pride  of  Jordan :  the  beautiful  thick  woods  which  grew 
on  its  banks.      See  note  on  Jcr.  xii.  5. 

4.  Feed  thou  the  flock.  This  is  commonly  understood  to  mean.  In- 
struct, admonish  the  flock.  J  think  the  meaning  is,  Govern  the  flock.  It 
appears  to  me  that  the  prophet  represents  himself  here,  not  as  literally 
'discharging  the  prophetic  office,  not  merely  as  the  messenger,  but  as 
the  emblem  or  symbol  of  the  Supreme  King  of  Israel,  that  is,  Jehovah, 
whose  government  the  Jewish  people  are  represented  as  contemning. 
Comp.  verses  7,  8,  9,  13,  14.  So  in  verse  15,  in  conformity  with 
this  emblematic  representation,  the  prophet  is  the  symbol  of  a  foolish 
shepherd,  that  is,  of  the  rulers,  or  the  government,  to  which  the  Jews 
were  left  when  they  spurned  the  government  of  Jehovah.  It  was  not 
unusual  with  the  prophets  thus  to  represent  themselves  as  symbols.  See 
Is.  eh.  XX.;  Ezek.  ch.  iv. ;  Jer.  xix.  1,  10,  11. 

7.  Favor:  in  order  to  denote  the  goodness  of  God  in  preserving  the 
people  from  their  enemies  under  his  peculiar  government.  — Bands: 
to  denote  the  dissolution  of  the  fraternal  league  between  Israel  and  Ju- 
dah,  verse  14. 

8.  —  thi-ee  shepherds.  The  prophet,  in  prophetic  vision,  is  represented 
as  removing  three  shepherds  of  the  flock,  intimating  that  Jehovah,  of 
whom,  as  Supreme  Ruler  of  the  Jews,  the  prophet  was  the  emblem, 
caused  three,  that  is,  several  kings,  or  rulers,  to  be  destroyed,  &c. 
Others  by  the  three  shepherds  understand,  with  less  probability,  three 
classes  of  rulers  ;  namely,  kings,  priests,  and  prophets. 

10.  —  tvith  all  the  nations;  i.  e.  that  they  should  not  destroy  or  lead 
captive  his  people.     This  would  amount  to  the  same  thing  as  to  aban- 
don his  people  to  their  enemies.     Eor  similar  phraseology,  see  Job  v. 
23;  Hos.  ii.  18;  Ezek.  xxxiv.  25. 
VOL.  II.  17 


386  NOTES. 

12. —  wages.  The  mean  wages  allowed  to  the  prophet  for  his 
services  as  shepherd,  that  is,  emblem  of  the  Supreme  Euler  of  the 
Jewish  people,  Jehovah,  seem  to  denote  the  low  estimation  in  which 
the  Jews  held  their  peculiar  privileges  under  the  immediate  govern- 
ment of  Jehovah,  and  their  ingratitude  to  their  Supreme  Ruler. 

13. — treasury;  i.  e.  the  treasury  of  Jehovah  in  the  temple,  where 
money  consecrated  or  in  a  peculiar  sense  belonging  to  Jehovah  would 
of  course  be  put.  From  the  latter  part  of  the  verse,  "  cast  them  into 
the  house  of  Jehovah,  into  the  treasury,"  arises  the  difficulty  of  suppos- 
ing "potter"  in  the  Common  Version  to  be  a  correct  translation.  For 
what  had  a  potter  to  do  in  the  temple"?  The  reasons  for  the  render- 
ing "  treasury "  may  be  seen  in  Ges.  Lex.  upon  the  Hebrew  word. 
Tiie  newest  explanation,  which  retains  the  common  rendering  "  pot- 
ter," is  that  of  Hengstenberg,  "/  cast  them  into  the  house  of  Jehovith, 
that  they  might  thence  be  carried  to  the  potter;  that  is,  to  a  mean, 
dirty  place."  To  this  there  are  two  objections,  which  he  fails  to 
remove:  —  1.  The  ellipsis.  2.  Why  should  the  prophet  first  cast  the 
silver  into  the  house  of  Jehovah,  if  he  were  ordered  to  throw  it  to  the 
potter?    — I  was  valued;  i.  e.  at  which  my  services  were  valued. 

15. — instruments  of  a  foolish  shepherd:  such  a  crook  as  would  hurt  or 
wound  the  sheep,  &c.  Bad  rulers  in  general  are  denoted,  such  as  the 
Jews  had,  when  they  cast  off  their  allegiance  to  Jehovah. 

17.  —  upon  his  right  eye;  i.  e.  his  right  eye  directs  the  sword  of 
slaughter  against  the  sheep.  Otherwise,  May  a  sword,  i.  e.  destruction, 
be  upon  his  arm,  &c. 

XII.  2. — cup  of  giddiness ;  i.  e.  an  intoxicating  potion,  which  shall 
make  them  stagger ;  that  is,  they  shall  in  their  attempts  against  Jeru- 
salem receive  a  signal  overthrow.  — And  for  Judah  also  shall  it  be  ;  i.  e. 
the  cup  of  giddiness.  Before  the  overthrow  of  the  invading  nations,  it 
is  evident  that  Judaga  would  be  in  great  terror  and  distress.  In  verse 
4,  God  promises  to  open  his  eyes  upon  them,  that  is,  to  deliver  them 
from  their  distress. 

6.  — Jrre-pan :  such  as  was  used  for  boiling,  roasting,  &c.  The 
Ai'abs  make  a  fire  in  a  great  stone  pitcher,  and,  when  it  is  heated, 
spread  paste  upon  it,  which  is  baked  in  an  instant. — Jerusalem:  here 
personified,  and  representing  the  inhabitants. 

8.  —  as  God;  i.  e.  irresistible  like  God,  in  whatever  way  he  manifests 
himself,  whether  by  an  angel,  as  in  the  next  line,  or  by  lightning, 
tempests,  &c.,  as  elsewhere. 

10. — supplication.  See  Job  xix.  17,  (in  the  original,)  and  Ges.  ad 
vei''\  — u'hom  they  pierced.  "God,"  says  Calvin,  on  John  xix.  37, 
"  here  speaks  in  the  manner  of  men,  signifying  that  he  is  wounded  by 
the  wickedness  of  his  people,  and  especially  by  the  obstinate  contempt 
of  his  word,  as  a  man  is  mortally  wounded  when  his  heart  is  pierced." 
— for  him ;  i.  e.  him  whom  they  pierced  by  their  wickedness  and  in- 
gratitude. The  pronoun  "  him  "  refers  to  the  same  person  as  "  me  " 
iu  the  preceding  line.     Such  a  change  of  the  pronoun  is  very  common 


ZECHARIAH.  38T 

in  Hebrew.  Or  the  meaning  nx^y  be  that  the  people  pierced  Jehovah, 
when  they  recently  put  to  death  some  one  of  his  messengers  or  proph- 
ets, who  is  not  named.  On  this  passage,  see  eh.  xi.  12,  and  the  note ; 
Christian  Examiner  tor  January,  1836,  p.  282,  et  seq. 

11,  —  the  mourmng  of  Hadadrimmon ;  i,  e,  the  mourning  for  King 
Josiah,  slain  at  JJadadrimmon,  a  town  in  the  valley  of  Megiddo.  See 
2  Chron,  xxxv,  22-25, 

12,  —  apdrt ;  i.  e.  "Secluding  themselves  from  all  social  and  domes- 
tic intercourse,  as  in  a  t]|ne  of  general  humiliation.  See  1  Cor.  vii. 
5,"     Blayney. 

XIII.  1. — there  shall  he  a  fountain  opened;  i.  e.  abundant  and  effica- 
cious meansshall  be  employed  by  a  merciful  God  to  reclaim  his  people 
from  their  sins,  like  the  pure  and  exhaustless  fountains  wliich  cleanse 
the  body  from  pollution. 

2. —  the  prophets  —  and  the  impure  spirit.  This  may  be  a  hendiadys, 
denoting  "  those  who  prophesy  by  means  of  the  unclean  spirit " ;  or 
two  classes  of  persons  may  bo  meant,  namely,  the  false  propliets,  who 
pretended  to  be  sent  from  God,  and  those  persons  who  practised  various 
kinds  of  divination,  by  evoking  the  dead,  &c. 

3. — pierce  him  through;  i.  e.  put  him  to  death. 

4.  — a  garment  of  hair.  See  2  Kings  i,  8  ;  Matt.  iii.  4.  They  shall 
not  affect  the  dress  of  tlie  old  prophets  in  order  to  pass  off  their  impos- 
tures. 

5.  —  hath  purchased  me ;  i.  e.  as  his  slave.  "Disclaiming  all  preten- 
sions to  the  character  of  a  prophet,  he  shall  profess  himself  only  a  plain 
laboring-man,  employed  in  husbandry  by  those  whose  property  he  had 
been,  quasi  adstrictus  glebce,  from  his  youth."     Blayney. 

6.  Those  with  which  I  was  wounded,  &c.  It  seems  to  me  that  the 
wounds  here  mentioned  were  such  as  were  received  in  punishment,  and 
not  the  mere  marks  of  a  servant,  as  Newcomo  supposes.  I  suppose 
they  were  the  scars  of  chastisement  received  from  his  parents  or  friends 
for  exercising  the  prophetic  office.  He  seems,  indeed,  to  deny  it  in  the 
preceding  verse.  But  it  was  probably  the  design  of  the  prophet  to 
introduce  one  who  had  been  actually  guilty,  but  was  afterwards  much 
ashamed  of  his  offence,  and  who  finally  confesses  that  the  wounds  in 
liis  hands,  received  from  his  friends  for  his  false  pretensions,  prove  the 
former  guilt  of  which  he  is  now  ashamed.  Another  explanation  is, 
They  are  not  idolatrous  ^larks,  with  which  idolaters  cut  themselves, 
but  such  as  I  inflicted  upon  myself  in  the  house  of  mourning.  A 
third,  They  are  the  idolatrous  marks  with  which  I  wounded  myself  in 
the  house  of  my  former  friends ;  that  is,  the  temple  of  false  gods,  or  of 
idolaters. 

7.  —  mi/  shepherd;  i.  e.  the  king  of  Israel,  the  shepherd  of  the  peo- 
ple of  Jehovah.  — my  fellow :  lit.  the  man  of  my  fellowship,  or  companion- 
ship ;  i.  e.  the  same  Avho  is  called  shcplierd  in  the  preceding  line.  He 
is  hei'e  called  the  fellow  or  associate  of  Jehovah  in  the  government  of 
his  people.     Jehovah  was  regarded  as  the  king  of  Israel,  as  having  his 


888  NOTES'. 

throne  in  Jerusalem ;  and  the  visible,  earthly  king  was  regarded  as 
sitting  at  his  right  hand,  as  his  fellow  or  associate.  See  Christian 
Examiner  for  January,  1836,  p.  281. 

XIV.  1.  —  thj  spoil;  i.  e.  the  s\)oiI  taken  from  thee,  O  Jerusalem, 
shall  be  divided  by  the  enemy  in  the  very  midst  of  the  city. 

4.  — Jus  feet  shall  stand;  i.  e.  the  feet  of  Jehovah  fighting  against  the 
enemies  of  his  people ;  that  is,  his  power  shall  be  conspicuously  man- 
ifested. 

5.  —  will  come ;  i.  e.  manifest  his  power  for  the  deliverance  of  his 
people  and  the  destruction  of  his  enemies.  — his  holy  ones;  i.  e.  his 
angels. 

6. — cold  and  ice:  in  consequence  of  the  absence  of  the  sun.  See 
the  Sept.  and  Vulg. 

7.  —  one  day  ;  i.  e.  a  short  period.  According  to  some,  an  extraordi- 
nary, unparalleled  day.  — It  shall  l>e  neither  day  nor  night;  that  is,  it 
shall  be  a  dark  day,  such  as  is  produced  by  a  total  eclipse  of  the  sun, 
which  is  yet  different  from  night.  A  period  of  calamity,  or  an  uncer- 
tain, doubtful,  confused  state  of  things,  is  denoted.  — But  at  the  time 
of  eveniny ;  i.e.  When  men  expect  nothing  but  darkness,  light  shall 
arise.  An  unexpected  end  shall  be  put  to  the  time  of  anxiety  and 
trouble. 

8.  — living  watei's.  See  Ezek.  xlvii.  1  ;  Joel  iii.  18.  Living  waters 
are  perennial,  ever-flowing  waters.  — eastern  sea  —  ivesfem  sea;  i.e. 
the  Dead  Sea  and  the  Mediterranean.  — In  summer  and  in  ivinter  shall 
they  be;  i.  e.  these  streaujs  shall  flow.  They  shall  not  be  like  those 
temporary  torrents  which  flow  in  winter  and  are  dried  up  in  summer. 
See  Job  vi.  15,  and  note.  By  these  liviiig  waters  are  denoted  the 
blessings,  especially  the  spiritual  blessings,  the  true  religion,  which 
should  pi-oceed  from  Jehovah,  whose  peculiar  dwelling-place  was  at 
Jerusalem.     See  the  next  verse. 

9.  Jehovah  shall  be  king,  &c.  In  all  the  earth  he  will  be  honored 
and  worshipped  as  the  true  God.  All  men  shall  be  his  people,  as  the 
Jews  had  been  his  people.  — shall  Jehovah  be  one,  and  his  name  one, 
i.  e.  instead  of  many  who  are  regarded  and  called  gods,  there  shall  be 
only  one,  and  that  one  Jehovah. 

10. — into  a  plain:  so  that  Jerusalem,  the  holy  cit}%  might  be  con- 
spicuous. —  Geba:  a  city  on  the  northern  border  of  the  kingdom  of 
Judah.  —  the  gate  of  Benjamin :  probably  at  the  north  of  Jerusalem. 
Jer.  xxxvii.  12,  13;  xxxviii.  7.  — the  former  gate :  supposed  to  be  the 
old  gate.  Nell.  iii.  6.  — corner  gate.  See  2  Kings  xiv.  13;  Jer. 
xxxi.  38.  —  tower  of  Uananeel :  eastward,  not  far  from  the  sheep-gate. 
Neh.  iii.  1  ;  Jer.  xxxi.  38. 

18.  — water ;  i.  e.  no  inundations  of  the  Nile,  which  supply  the  place 
of  rain  to  Egypt.    —  Tlie  plague ;  i.  e.  famine. 

20.  —  bells  of  the  horses ;  i.  e.  Whereas,  formerly,  "  Holy  to  Jehovah  " 
was  written  only  upon  the  tiara  of  the  high-priest,  now,  all  things 
shall  be  holy  to  him,  even  the  bells  worn  for  ornament  upon  the  necks 


MALACHi.  389 

ot  the  horses  by  those  who  come  from  all  parts  of  the  earth  to  worship 
ill  Jerusalem.  Others  understand,  that  the  ornaments  of  horses  shail 
be  converted  into  saered  utensils.  — the  pots ;  i.  e.  the  meanest  uten- 
sils in  the  house  of  God  shall  be  as  the  vessels  of  silver  and  gold  used 
in  solemn  sacritice. 

21. — a  trader:  i.  e,  to  sell  vessels,  &c.     Otherwise,  a  Canaanite;  i.  e. 
a  profane,  impious  person,  such  as  the  Canaanites  formerly  were. 


NOTES    ON    MALACHI. 


That  Malachi,  whose  name  probably  sir^nities  "  messenger  of  Jeho- 
vah," was  a  contemporary  of  Nehemiah,  was,  says  Jahn,  "the  unvary- 
ing opinion  of  the  ancients,  and  is  placed  beyond  all  doubt  by  the  sub- 
ject of  the  book,  Avhich  presents  the  same  tace  of  things  which  existed 
in  Nehemiah's  time.  It  speaks  of  the  temple  as  having  been  built  a 
considerable  time;  it  introduces  the  Jews  complaining  of  the  unfavor- 
al)le  state  of  their  affairs  ;  it  finds  fault  with  the  heathen  wives,  whom 
Nehemiah  after  some  time  separated  from  the  people,  Neh.  xiii.  23- 
30 ;  it  censures  the  withholding  of  tithes,  which  was  also  noticed  by 
Nehemiah,  xiii.  5.  Prom  these  circumstances  it  appears  that  Malachi 
prophesied  in  the  time  of  Nehemiah,  and  during  his  second  residence 
in  Judaea,  about  412-408  before  Christ,  when  he  reformed  the  abuses 
before  mentioned.     This  is  confirmed  by  Mai.  i.  5." 

I.  2.  Yet  I  loved  Jacob.  It  is  evident  that  Jacob  and  Esau,  in  the 
latter  clause  of  this  verse,  are  used  to  denote  the  posterity  of  those 
patriarchs,  as  well  as  themselves. 

5.  —  beyond  the  borders  ;  i.  e.  he  manifests  his  glorious  power  in  other 
countries  than  Israel.     See  verse  11. 

7.  In  that  ye  say,  The  table  of  Jehovah  is  contemptible;  i.  e.  By  their 
actions,  by  offering  the  torn,  sick,  lame,  &c.,  they  virtually  said  that 
the  table  of  Jehovah,  namely,  his  altar,  was  unworthy  of  respect. 

10. — close  the  doors;  i.  e.  of  the  temple.  * 

12.  — polluted;  i.  e.  ye  treat  it  as  if  it  were  impure. 

IT.  2. — curse  your  blessings  ;  i.  e.  those  things  which  they  received 
by  the  blessing  of  God,  such  as  the  fruits  of  the  earth,  herds,  &c. 

3. — carried  to  it;  i.  e.  destroyed,  and  cast  upon  a  dunghill. 

4.  —  my  covenant  may  remain  ;  i.  e.  tliat  ye  may  reform,  and  not  be 
cast  off. 


300  NOTES. 

9.  — respect  to  persons ;  i.  e.  having  one  decision  for  the  poor  and  an- 
other for  the  rich.     See  Lev.  xix.  15. 

11.  —  holy  people.  See  Jer.  ii.  3.  —  dauglder  of  a  strange  god ;  i.  e.  the 
worshipper  of  a  different  god  from  Jehovah. 

12.  Him  that  waketh  and  him  that  answereth  ;  i.  e.  every  one  living; 
a  proverbial  expression,  borrowed,  perhaps,  from  the  service  of  the 
Levites  in  the  temple,  of  whom  one  remained  awake  and  called,  and 
the  other  answered.  In  the  same  sense  the  Arabs  say,  "  Ko  caller  and 
no  answerer."     See  Ps.  cxxxiv.  and  Is.  Ixii.  6. 

13.  —  tears,  &c.  ;  i.  e.  of  wives  whom  they  divorced  or  abused. 

14.  Wherefore'?  i.  e,  doth  he  not  accept  the  offering. 

15.  —  make  one;  1.  e.  one  pair,  one  man  and  one  woman,  who  were 
to  be  regarded  as  one  flesh.  — residue  of  the  spirit;  i.  e.  his  Divine 
power  was  not  exhausted ;  be  might  have  made  many  women  for  one 
man.  — a  godUj  race,  lit.  a  seed  of  God ;  i.  e.  a  holy  race,  worthy  to  be 
called  sons  of  God.  This  construction  of  verse  15,  which  is  that  of 
the  Common  Version,  I  prefer  on  the  whole,  though  it  supposes  a 
somewhat  harsh  ellipsis.  Most  of  the  modern  German  scholars  under- 
stand the  verse  as  follows  :  — 

[Ye  pay,  in  excuse  for  yourselves:  ] 
"  Rut  did  not  the  Single  one  do  it  ? 
And  yet  a  divine  spirit  remained  to  him." 
But  what  did  the  Single  one  do  ? 
He  sought  the  posterity  promised  by  God. 

"  Single  one  "  they  suppose  to  be  a  denomination  of  Abraham,  bor- 
rowed from  Is.  li.  2  ;  Ezek.  xxxiii.  24.  But  it  does  not  appear  satis- 
factorily that  "  the  Single  one  "  was  of  itself  a  denomination  of  Abra- 
ham. And  the  phrase,  "  a  divine  spirit  remained  to  him,"  or,  "  he 
had  a  residue  of  the  divine  spirit,"  meaning  that  he  remained  a  good 
man,  is  about  as  harsh  and  inconsistent  with  usage  as  anything  in  the 
intcrpetation  which  I  have  preferred.  Ewald  understands  it  thus  : 
Did  not  One  [God]  make  them  9  i.  e.  man  and  woman  ;  and  does  not  the 
residue  of  the  sjnrit,  i.  e.  the  whole  spirit  of  man,  in  time  and  eternity, 
befong  to  him,  and  is  it  not  liable  to  be  punished  by  him?  But  this 
meaning  of  the  phrase  residue  of  the  spirit  is  not  agreeable  to  Old  Tes- 
tament usage. 

16. — covereth  his  garment  with  violence;  i.  e.  who  is  guilty  of  harsh 
and  cruel  treatment  to  his  wife,  by  dismissing  her ;  who  covers  with 
violence  that  garment  which  is  the  sign  of  conjugal  protection  and 
fidelity.     Ezek.  xvi.  8;  Euth  iii.  9. 

III.  1.  —  the  Lord,  irhom  ye  seek.  "The  Lord"  may  here  denote 
the  Supreme  Being,  said  to  come,  because  his  perfections  would  be  con- 
spicuously displayed  by  the  coming  of  the  messenger  of  the  covenant, 
of  whom  mention  immediately  follows.  Or,  by  "  the  Lord  "  may  be 
denoted  the  messenger  of  the  covenant  in  the  next  line,  who  was  ex- 
pected to  come  to  the  temple  in  order  to  purify  it.     The  original  word 


JONAH.  391 

here  translated  "  the  Lord,"  when  used  without  the  article,  is  every- 
where applied  to  human  beings  in  the  Old  Testament.  And  though 
with  the  article,  which  it  has  here,  it  denotes  the  Supreme  Being,  as 
the  Lord  of  all  the  earth,  when  no  other  use  of  the  article  can  be  as- 
signed except  to  denote  the  Supreme  Being,  yet  in  this  verse  the  article 
may  be  used  merely  to  denote  that  particular  lord  who  was  an  object 
of  expectation  and  desire;  ille  dominus,  quern,  &c.  It  is  extremely 
doubtful  whether  the  Messiah  is  ]n-cdjctcd  in  this  passage. 

10, — jwne  left;  i.  e.  till  the  Divine  abundance  shall  be  exhausted. 
And  as  this  can  never  be,  the  meaning  is,  that  the  blessing  shall  be 
perpetual. 

14.  —  walked  mouriifalJy ;  i.  e.  with  prayer  and  fasting,  in  sackcloth 
and  ashes. 

15.  —  the  proiid ;  i.  e.  those  who  behave  themselves  arrogantly 
against  God,  the  impious. 

16.  —  sjxdce  to  one  another:  things  the  reverse  of  what  were  uttered 
by  the  impious,  becoming  those  who  feared  God. 

IV.  6. — heart  of  the  fathers,  &c. ;  i.  e.  produce  harmony  and  peace 
between  fathers  and  children. 


NOTES    ON    JONAH. 

The  name  of  Jonah,  a  prophet  who  lived  in  the  time  of  Jeroboam 
the  Second,  2  Kings  xiv.  23-25,  and  before  Joel  and  Amos,  is  prefixed 
to  this  book,  because  he  is  the  subject,  not  the  author  of  it.  Who  was 
the  author  of  the  work,  and  to  what  age  he  belongs,  is  wholly  uncer- 
tain. I  have,  with  Jahn,  supposed  that  he  lived  about  the  time  of 
Malachi.     See  Jahn's  Introduction  to  the  Book  of  Jonah. 

Many  and  strange  hypotheses  have  been  brought  forward  in  regard 
to  the  contents  of  this  book.  I  think  the  popular  opinion  is  the  only 
correct  one,  namely,  that  it  purports  to  be  a  history  of  some  circum- 
stances in  the  life  of  the  prophet  Jonah.  But  the  legendary  character 
of  it  seems  to  be  established  even  in  the  popular  mind,  Avithout  the  aid 
of  historical  ci-iticism.  Whether  the  narrative  be  supposed  to  contain 
much  or  little  that  is  mythical,  the  religious  lessons  which  it  affords 
are  of  great  interest  and  value.  Dean  Stanley,  the  second  volume  of 
whose  elegant  and  instructive  Lectures  on  the  Jewish  Church  has  just 
come  into  my  hands,  has  well  remarked  :  — 

"  Jonah  is  the  first  apostle,  though  involuntary  and  unconscious,  of 
the  Gentiles.     The  inspiration  of  the  Gentile  world  is  acknowledged  in 


392  NOTES. 

the  prophecy  of  Balaam,  its  nobleness  in  the  Book  of  ,X>b,  its  greatness 
in  the  reign  of  Solomon.  But  its  distinct  claims  on  the  justice  and 
mercy  of  God  are  first  recognized  in  the  Book  of  Jonah.  It  is  the 
cry  of  the  good  heathen  that  causes  the  sea  '  to  cease  from  her  raging/ 
It  is  the  penitence  of  the  vast  population  of  the  heathen  Nineveh  that 
arouses  the  Divine  pity  even  for  the  innocent  children  and  the  dumb, 
lielpless  cattle. 

"  In  the  popular  traditions  of  East  and  "West,  Jonah's  name  alone 
has  survived  the  Lesser  prophets  of  the  Jewish  Church.  It  still  lives, 
not  only  in  many  a  Mussulman  tomb  along  the  coasts  and  hills  of 
Syria,  but  in  the  thoughts  and  devotions  of  Christendom.  The  mar- 
vellous escape  from  the  deep,  through  a  single  passing  allusion  in  the 
Gospel  history,  was  made  an  emblem  of  the  deliverance  of  Christ  him- 
self from  the. Jaws  of  death  and  the  grave.  The  great  Christian  doc- 
trine of  the  boundless  power  of  human  repentance  received  its  chief 
illustration  from  the  repentance  of  the  Ninevites  at  the  preaching  of 
Jonah.  There  is  hardly  any  figure  from  the  Old  Testament  which  the 
early  Christians  in  the  Catacombs  so  often  took  as  their  consolation 
in  persecution,  as  the  deliverance  of  Jonah  on  the  sea-shore,  and  his 
naked  form  stretched  out  in  the  burning  sun  beneath  the  sheltering 
gourd.  But  these  all  conspire  with  the  story  itself  in  j)roclaiming  that 
still  wider  lesson  of  which  I  have  spoken.  It  is  the  rare  protest  of 
theology  against  the  excess  of  theology,  —  it  is  the  faithful  delineation, 
through  all  its  various  states,  of  the  dark,  sinister,  scltish'side  of  even 
great  religious  teachers.  It  is  the  grand  Biblical  ap}>eal  to  the  com- 
mon instincts  of  humanity,  and  to  the  universal  love  of  God,  against 
the  narrow  dogmatism  of  sectarian  polemics.  There  has  never  been  a 
'  generation '  which  has  not  needed  the  majestic  revelation  of  sternness 
aiul  charity,  each  bestowed  where  most  deserved  and  where  least  ex- 
pected, in  the  '  sign  of  the  prophet  Jonah.'  " 

I.  3.  Jopjxi :  a  seaport  on  the  INIediterranean,  in  the  territory  of 
Don,  now  called  JalFa,  and  still  distinguished  for  its  port.  —  Tarslush. 
See  note  on  Ezek.  xxvii.  25. 

.5.  —  had  gone  down,  &c. ;  i.  e.  on  account  of  his  fatigue  and  anxiety. 
Whether  the  narrative  be  fiction  or  fact,  the  meaning  cannot  be,  as 
some  suppose,  that  Jonah  went  down  and  slej)t  at  the  moment  when 
the  ship  was  on  the  point  of  being  dashed  in  pieces. 

II.  2.  I  cried,  &c.  "  This  prayer  hath  much  more  the  appear- 
ance of  a  thanksgiving  after  a  deliverance;  and  indeed  could  scarce  be 
used  before,  whatever  change  be  made  in  the  tenses  ;  unless  we  sup- 
pose it  px-ophetical  of  the  deliverance.  Had  it  not  been  inserted  in  the 
history,  many  things  in  it  would  have  been  understood  metaphorically, 
as  in  the  Psalms."  Seeker.  — the  under-world;  i.  e.  Sheol,  the  place  of 
the  dead,  here  used  metaphorically  to  denote  Jonah's  desperate  condition. 

6. — foundations  of  the  mountains ;  i.  e.  bottom  of  the  sea;  regarded 
as  the  termination  of  the  roots  of  the  mountains.  —  The  bars  of  the 


DANIEL.  oD3 

earth;  i.  e.  the  bavs  of  the  gate  wliich  leads  into  the  deep  recesses  of 
the  earth,  i.  e.  into  Shcol.     See  Job  xvii.  16. 

8.  —  their  m&'cy ;  i.  e.  God,  the  source  of  all  mercy. 

III.  3. — through  God;  i.  e.  by  the  favor  of  God.  Others,  before 
God;  i.  e.  he  being  the  judge.  Others,  of  God.  Either  is  admissi- 
ble, and  expresses  the  general  sense,  namely,  the  greatness  of  the  city. 
—  three  da i/s'  journey,  &c.  It  is  most  mitural  to  understand  this  of  the 
circumference  of  the  city,  represented  to  be  so  great  as  to  require  a 
three  days'  journey  to  go  round  it.  Diodorus  Siculus  says,  it  was  150 
stadia  in  length,  and  90  stadia  in  breadth. 

IV.  1. — displeased;  i.  e.  because  it  seemed  to  him  that  his  veracity 
as  a  prophet  and  the  honor  of  his  office  were  affected. 

6. — gourd.  Most  modern  writers  suppose  the  ricinus  or  palma 
Christi  to  be  the  plant  here  mentioned ;  for  a  desci'iption  of  which  see 
Robinson's  Calmct,  Art.  Gourd.  But  Niebuhr  remarks  :  "  The  Jews 
and  Chi-istians  at  Mosul  and  Aleppo  affirm,  that  el-kheroa  [tlie  ricinus] 
is  not  the  plant  which  furnished  a  shade  for  Jonah,  but  a  species  of 
gourd  called  el-kerra,  which  has  very  large  leaves  and  bears  a  very  large 
fruit;  and  which  does  not  last  more  than  about  four  months."  — his 
distress.  This  may  refer  to  his  distress  caused  by  the  heat  of  the  sun  ; 
or  the  reference  may  be  to  the  main  design  of  preparing  and  desti-oy- 
ing  the  gourd,  that  of  showing  the  unreasonableness  of  Jonah's  vexa- 
tion, and  thus  putting  an  end  to  it. 

11.  —  that  cannot  discern,  &c. ;  i.  e.  young  children,  incapable  of  sin. 
and.  undeserving  of  punishment.  "  Reckoning  those  of  a  tender  age 
at  a  fifth  part,  the  city  contained  six  hundred  thousand  inhabitants." 
Newcome. 


NOTES    ON    DANIEL. 

"What  we  know  of  Daniel  appears  with  so  much  distinctness  in  the 
book  which  bears  his  name,  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  say  anything 
here  of  his  character  and  history.  His  name  imports,  either  "  Judge- 
of-God,"  i.  e.  one  who  pronounces  judgment  in  the  name  of  God,  or 
"  God-is-my-judge,"  i.  e.  my  vindicator.  He  is  referred  to  in  Ezekiel 
xiv.  14,  16,  18,  20,  xxviii.  3,  as  distinguished  for  piety  and  for 
wisdom.  From  these  passages  of  Ezekiel,  however,  we  cannot  infer 
that  the  Book  of  Daniel  was  known  to  that  prophet. 

A  tradition  *  is  said  to  prevail  among  the  Mahometans,  that  Daniel 

*  S'eo  Ros.  Coram,  in  Dan.  p.  5. 
17* 


394  NOTES. 

returned  with  Ezra  into  Judaea,  and  that  he  was  afterwards  Prefect  of 
Syria,  and  that  he  closed  his  life  at  Susa,  the  capital  of  Persia.  But 
it  is  entitled  to  no  credit. 

The  Book  of  Daniel  consists  of  two  parts,  the  one  chiefly  histori- 
cal, extending  to  the  end  of  chapter  sixth,  the  other  prophetical,  con- 
taining four  visions,  repi'esenting  the  revolutions  of  kingdoms.  The 
work  is  written  in  different  languages  ;  ch.  i.  -.-ii.  4,  and  from  ch. 
viii.  to  the  end,  being  in  Hebrew,  and  tlie  other  part  in  Chaldee.  For 
this  fact  no  satisfactory  reason  has  been  assigned. 

The  most  important  question  relating  to  the  Book  of  Daniel  is 
whether  it  be  genuine ;  that  is,  the  production  of  a  prophet  who  lived 
during  the  exile  at  Babylon.  A  brief  statement  of  the  grounds  of  my 
judgment  on  this  subject  would  be  unsatisfactory.  I  will  not  there- 
fore give  any  in  this  place.  But  I  feel  bound  to  express  my  convic- 
tion that  the  arguments  for  the  comparatively  modern  date  of  the 
work,  entirely  independent  of  the  general  question  of  the  credibility  of 
miracles,  are  absolutely  conclusive,  so  tliat  I  have  placed  it  last  among 
the  books  of  the  Old  Testament. 

If  it  be  true  that  the  Book  of  Daniel  was  not  written  till  about  167 
years  before  Christ,  or  a  short  time  before  the  death  of  Antiochus 
Epiphancs,  it  is  undoubtedly  a  truth  of  considerable  importance,  and 
far-reaching  in  its  consequences,  in  a  theological  point  of  view.  But 
in  the  long  run  nothing  is  better  than  the  truth,  and  therefore  it 
should  be  made  known. 

The  chief  interest  both  of  the  Jewish  and  Christian  Church  in  the 
book  has  been  in  the  seeming  predictions  which  it  contains.  But  if  it 
was  written  only  167  years  before  Christ  and  four  hundred  years  after 
the  time  of  Daniel  of  the  captivity,  then  these  seeming  predictions  — 
all  of  them  which  have  any  definiteness  —  were  written  after  tJie  event, 
and  have  no  significance  except  as  a  specimen  of  literary  artifice. 
The  most  general  opinion  among  critics  seems  to  be  that  the  author's 
clothing  of  history  in  the  garb  of  prediction  was  an  innocent  artifice. 
Some  have  compared  it  to  the  predictions  which  Virgil  puts  into  the 
mouth  of  father  Anchises  in  the  sixth  book  of  tlie  ^neid,  766-892. 
But  there  is  not  much  resemblance  between  the  Book  of  Daniel  and 
Virgil's  JEneid ;  and  in  the  latter  the  predit-ter  does  not  profess  to 
be  the  Avriter  of  the  book.  The  Book  of  Ecclesiastes  in  the  Protestant, 
and  the  Book  of  Wisdom  in  the  Catholic  Canon  of  the  Old  Testament, 
were  undoubtedly  written  after  the  captivity,  and  yet  assume  to  be 
written  by  Solomon,  the  wise  son  of  David.  But  these  books  contain 
no  predictions.  It  is  difficult  to  say  what  was  the  intention  of  the 
author  of  the  Book  of  Daniel  in  writing  under  an  assumed  name,  and 
clothing  history  in  the  language  of  prediction,  because  we  are  not 
acquainted  with  the  circumstances  of  its  original  publication,  and  do 
not  know  whether  the  contemporaries  of  the  writer  were  deceived  or  not. 
There  is  reason  to  believe  that  apocalyptical  writers  sometimes  assumed 
a  false  name  with  an  intention  to  deceive.  But  we  cannot  agree  with 
some  recent  writers  in  maintaining  that  such  a  practice  was  generally 


DANIEL.  €)y5 

rcgtvrdccl  as  consistent  witli  moral  rectitude.  Was  tlicrc  ever  an  aga 
when  the  public  was  willing  to  be  imposed  upon  1  In  our  desire  to 
avoid  the  conclusion  that  the  Book  of  Daniel  is  a  pious  forgery,  we 
must  be  careful  not  to  set  np  maxims  which  will  destroy  the  trust- 
worthiness of  all  history.  I  do  not  believe  that  a  practice  which,  at 
the  present  day,  would  be  universally  condemned  as  deception  and 
fraud,  was  at  any  period  of  the  Jewisli  or  Christian  Churcli  generally 
approved  as  right.  In  our  ignorance  of  the  manner  in  which  the 
writer  first  otfered  the  work  to  his  contemporaries,  —  its  first  readers, 
—  it  may  be  hoped,  but  not  confidently  assei'ted,  that  he  intended  to 
practise  no  deception.  It  was  an  unfortunate  thing,  at  least,  that  he 
adopted  a  species  of  litcraiy  fiction  which  has  generally  been  misun- 
derstood, and  has  in  various  ways  been  productive  of  much  more  evil 
than  good. 

Dr.  Arnold  seems  to  lean  to  the  opinion  that  the  predictions  were 
intended  to  deceive.  "I  have  long  thought,"  says  he,  "that  the 
greater  part  of  the  Book  of  Daniel  is  most  certainly  a  very  late  work 
of  the  time  of  the  Maccabees,  and  the  prcterided  prophecy  about  the 
kings  of  Greece  and  Persia,  and  of  the  North  and  South,  mere  history, 
like  the  poetical  prophecies  of  Virgil,  and  elsewhere.  In  fact,  you  can 
trace  distinctly  the  date  when  it  was  written,  because  the  events  up  to 
that  date  are  given  with  historical  minuteness  totally  unlike  the  char- 
acter of  real  pi-ophecy  ;  and  beyond  that  date  all  is  imaginary."*  The 
arguments  which  establish  the  date  of  the  Book  of  Daniel  may  be  found 
in  English,  in  Davidson's  Introduction  to  the  Old  Testament,  and 
Parker's  Translation  of  De  AVette's  ;  in  Latin,  in  the  Commentaries 
of  Rosenmueller  and  Maurer ;  and  in  German,  in  the  Introductions  of 
Eichhorn,  Bertholdt,  De  Wette,  and  Bleek ;  and  in  the  Commentaries 
of  Lengerke  and  Hitzig.  Liicke,  EAvald,  Knobcl,  and  Gesenius  have 
also  maintained  the  same  opinion.  In  defence  of  the  genuineness,  the 
principal  works  are  by  Bishop  Chandlei',  Hengstenbcrg,  Hiivernick,  and 
Professor  Stuart.  Very  recently,  also,  have  appeared  two  works  on 
the  subject  by  clergymen  of  the  Church  of  England,  maintaining  dif- 
fei'cnt  sides  of  the  question  ;  one  by  Professor  Pusey  of  Oxford  Uni- 
versity, in  nine  Lectures  "  On  Daniel  the  Prophet,"  "  planned,"  as  he 
says,  "  against  that  tide  of  scepticism  which  the  publication  of  the  Es- 
says and  Reviews  let  loose,"  &c.,  London  and  Oxford,  1864.  Being 
thus  written  for  an  object  in  its  nature  apologetic  or  polemical,  and 
entirely  distinct  from  that  of  a  purely  critical  examination  of  the  au- 
thorship of  the  Book  of  Daniel,  this  work  contains  little  valuable 
criticism,  and  a  good  deal  of  the  argiunr-ntam  ad  invidiam.  The  other 
work,  "Daniel,  or  the  Apocalypse  of  the  Old  Testament,"  Avritten  in 
the  spirit  of  a  cautious  and  earnest  inquirer,  is  by  Philip  S.  Desprcz, 
B.  D.,  Incumbent  of  Alvediston,  Wilts,  with  an  Introduction  by  Row- 
land Williams,  D.  D.,  London,  1865. 

The  design  of  the  unknown  apocalyptic  writer,  as  it  may  be  gathered 

,  *  Arnold's  Life  and  Correspendence,  Yol.  II.  p.  195. 


896  NOTES. 

from  a  survey  of  the  whole  book,  was  pious  and  patriotic.  It  was 
that  of  comforting  his  countrymen  under  the  persecutions  of  tlie  tyrant 
Antiochus  Epiphanes,  of  exciting-  hopes  of  deliverance,  and  of  encour- 
aging them  to  persevere  in  their  allegiance  to  their  religion  and  their 
God,  by  the  examples  of  signal  favor  Avhich  he  had  shown  to  such 
men  as  Shadrach,  Meshach,  Abcdnego,  and  Daniel,  and  by  the  exam- 
ples of  monarchs  who  had  been  brought  to  ruin  in  consequence  of 
their  hostility  to  the  Jewish  religion  and  nation.  These  examples 
are  drawn  from  legendary  history,  embellished  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent by  the  writer's  own  imagination.  The  history  in  the  form  of 
predictions,  and  the  vague  anticipations  of  Messianic  times,  which 
here  and  there  occur,  are  all  adapted  to  accomplish  his  practical  pur- 
pose. The  book  contains  no  religious  doctrine  or  moral  duty  which  is 
not  better  illustrated  in  the  inspired  Avritings  of  the  long  line  of  genuine 
prophets.  The  story  of  the  preservation  of  Daniel  in  the  lion's  den, 
and  of  the  three  in  the  fiery  furnace,  does  not  contain  so  much  real 
encouragement  to  faithfulness  in  the  path  of  duty,  as  the  sublime  dec- 
laration of  Paul  of  Tarsus,  "  And  now,  behold,  I  go  bound  in  the  spirit 
to  Jerusalem,  not  knowing  the  things  that  shall  befall  me  there,  save 
that  the  Holy  Spirit  witnesscth  to  me  in  every  city,  saying  that  bonds 
and  alliictions  await  me.  But  none  of  these  things  move  me."  It  is 
not  so  consonant  with  the  providence  of  God  in  regard  to  the  bold  advo- 
cates of  truth  and  righteousness  as  the  utterances  of  Jereniiali  and  other 
genuine  Hebrew  propiiets.  It  is  by  the  stripes* of  the  servants  of  God 
that  the  people  are  healed.  It  is  by  the  cross  f  that  men  are  drawn  to 
heaven.  The  genuine  prophets  touch  the  heart;  the  apocalyptics 
reach  only  the  imagination.  The  question  in  regard  to  the  genuine- 
ness of  the  Book  of  Daniel  has  no  necessary  connection  with  the  inter- 
pretation of  its  language.  Thus  Professor  Stuart  in  his  learned  Com- 
mentary is  among  the  ablest  defenders  of  the  genuineness  of  the  book. 
But  he  agrees  with  those  who  adopt  the  opposite  opinion,  in  limiting 
the  author's  vision  to  the  reign  of  Antiochus  Epiphanes,  and  the 
obscure  anticipations  of  the  Messianic  kingdom  which  Avas  to  follow 
the  death  of  that  tyrant.  He  finds  no  reference  in  the  book  to  the 
Roman  Empire. 

I.    4.  —  the  ivrithig ;  i.  e.  the  letters,  which  differed  from  the  Hebrew. 

8. — dejile  himself.  The  meat  of  the  king  was  regarded  as  polluting, 
because  it  might  consist  of  animals,  or  parts  of  animals,  forbidden  by  the 
Jewish  law,  or  because  portions  of  it  might  have  been  ofiei'ed  to  idols. 
Tor  this  last  reason  the  wine  of  the  king  was  regarded  as  polluting. 

12. — pulse:  more  strictly,  seed-herbs,  vegetables. 

17.  —  learning:  lit.  loriting,  which  in  verse  4  denoted  the  Chaldee 
letters,  but  must  here  denote  the  subjects  of  Avriting,  what  is  con- 
tained in  books.  — ivisdom.  In  various  parts  of  the  Old  Testament 
the  meaning  of  this  word  is  the  common  English  meaning.     But  here 

*  Is.  Hii.  5.  t  J^lia  xli.  32. 


DANIEL.  397 

and  in  verse  20,  and  elsewhere  in  Daniel,  it  seems  to  denote  that  sort 
of  wisdom  which  is  expected  in  scribes,  learned  men,  magicians,  &c. 

20. — scribes;  i.e.  learned  men,  skilled  in  matters  of  religion; 
UpoypafjifxaTels-  —  magicians.  Simonis  regards  the  primary  meaning 
of  tiie  word,  from  which  the  Hebrew  is  derived,  to  be,  to  cover,  to  hide ; 
hence,  to  practise  hidden  arts,  to  use  incantation. 

II.  2.  —  sorcerers.  The  primary  meaning  of  the  original  seems  to 
have  been,  to  prwj,  to  ivorship ;  hence,  to  use  magic  formulas,  to  mutter. 
—  Chakkeans.     The  word  here  seems  to  denote  astrologers. 

5.  The  ivord  has  gone  from  me ;  i.  e.  it  has  been  uttered  and  is  irrev- 
ocable. Sec  verse  13.  According  to  the  Common  Version,  it  would 
appear  that  the  king  had  forgotten  his  dream ;  but  in  tiiat  case  it 
would  not  have  troubled  him.  The  true  reason  of  the  king's  requiring 
them  to  tell  the  dream  is  indicated  in  verse  9  :  "  Tell  me  the  dream, 
and  I  shall  know  that  ye  can  show  me  the  interpretation  thereof." 

9,  —  till  the  time  be  changed;  i.  e.  till  the  present  time  pass,  and  I  bo 
occupied  with  other  business,  so  as  to  give  up  inquiry  about  the 
dream.    . 

21.  —  he  changeth  times  and  seasons ;  i.  c.  all  the  vicissitudes  of  time 
depend  upon  him. 

27. — astrologers:  lit.  deciders,  determinas.  By  casting  nativities 
from  the  place  of  the  stars,  at  one's  birth,  they  determined  and  fore- 
told his  condition. 

30. — kiwio  the  thoughts  of  thy  heart;  i.  e.  understand  the  vision  or 
dream  which  came  into  thy  mind,  verse  29. 

38.  Thou  art  the  head,  &c.  Here  Nebuchadnezzar  is  considered  as 
the  representative  of  the  kingdom.  It  is  the  kingdom  which  is  chiefly 
denoted.  That  the  four  parts  of  the  image  in  Nebuchadnezzar's  dream 
denote  four  great  empires  or  dynasties,  is  admitted  by  all.  But  there 
is  not  the  same  uniformity  of  opinion  as  to  the  question  what  these 
dynasties  were.  An  opinion  which  was  once  prevalent  in  the  Church, 
that  the  fourth  empire  was  the  Iloman,  is  now  generally  discarded  as 
wholly  untenable.  Putting  this  out  of  view,  it  is  a  question  whether 
the  writer  understood  these  empires  to  be,  —  1.  the  Babylonian,  2.  the 
Median,  3.  the  Medo-Persian,  and  4.  the  Macedonian,  or  that  of 
Alexander  and  his  successors  in  Egypt  and  Syria;  or,  1.  the  Babylo 
nian,  2.  the  Medo-Persian,  3.  the  Macedonian,  or  that  of  Alexander 
the  Great,  and  4.  that  of  the  successors  of  Alexander  in  Syria,  Egypt, 
&c.  In  favor  of  the  last  division  it  is  said  that,  according  to  history, 
there  was  no  sejiarate  Median  empire  between  the  Babylonian  and  the 
Persian  under  Cyrus.  Reference  is  made  to  Herodotus,  I.  130.  On 
the  other  hand, 'it  may  be  said  that,  as  the  author  of  the  Book  of 
Daniel  understood  history,  the  case  was  ditlerent.  He  expressly  says, 
V.  31,  vi.  1,  that,  on  the  death  of  Belshazzar,  Darius  the  Mede  took 
possession  of  the  kingdom,  and  held  it  for  some  time.  Also  in  viii.  3. 
Persia  is  represented  as  growing  up  after  Media.  See  also  xi.  1. 
It  seems   also  quite  certain    from    viii.  21-25,    that    the    author  re- 


898  NOTES. 

gardetl  the  empire  of  Alexander  a\id  his  successors  as  one  dynastj. 
It  seems  to  me  therefore  most  probable  that  the  author  regarded  the 
head  of  the  image  as  denoting  the  Babylonian  empire,  the  breast  and 
the  arms  the  Median,  the  belly  and  thighs  the  Medo-Persian,  and  the 
legs,  feet,  and  toes  that  of  Alexander  and  his  successors.  So  Jahn, 
Eichhorn,  Von  Lengerke,  and  others.  That  the  Roman  Empire  is 
not  alluded  to  here,  or  in  any  part  of  the  Book  of  Daniel,  has  been 
shown  by  unanswerable  arguments  by  Professor  Stuart  in  his  Com- 
mentary, especially  in  pp.  173-19.3, 

39.  —  another  kingdom,  inferior  to  thee;  i.  e.  of  the  Modes.  — third 
kingdom  of  brass;  i.  e.  the  Medo-Pcrsian. 

40. — a  fourth  kingdom;  i.  c.  the  kingdom  of  Alexander  and  his 
successors  in  Egypt,  Syria,  &c. 

42. — partly  strong  and  partly  broken;  i.  e.  one  part  strong  and  one 
depressed,  according  as  different  parties  prevail. 

44.  —  God  of  heaven  set  up  a  kingdom,  &c. ;  i.  e.  the  kingdom  of 
the  people  of  the  saints  of  the  Most  High,  as  in  A'ii.  27.  — to  no 
other  people :  as  the  Babylonians  relinquished  theirs  to  the  Medes,  the 
Medes  theirs  to  the  Persians,  and  the  Persians  theirs  to  the  Greeks. 

46.  —  worshipped  Daniel,  «&c. — offer  an  oblation  and  sweet  odors;  i.  e. 
paid  him  such  honors  as  were  paid  to  the  gods ;  not  because  he  re- 
garded Daniel  as  a  god,  but  as  a  god-inspired  man,  as-appears  from  the 
next  verse;  or  because  the  spirit  of  the  holy  gods  was  in  him  (iv.  8). 

49.  —  in  the  gate  of  the  king ;  i.  e.  of  the  royal  palace,  put  for  tlie 
palace  itself,  or  ratl)er  for  the  court  of  the  palace,  into  which  there 
was  only  one  entrance.  So  it  is  well  known  that  the  court  of  the 
Turkish  sovereigns  is  called  the  Porte,  or  the  Sublime  Porte,  i.  e.  the 
Gate,  or  tlie  High  Gate. 

III.  1.  — image  of  gold.  It  has  been  computed  that  such  an  image, 
with  sufficient  solidity  to  make  it  stand  erect,  would  require  more  gold 
than  is  now  in  the  possession  of  man  throughout  the  world. 

5. — samlmck:  Gr.  crayi^vKr).  This  was  probably  a  species  of  harp. 
Concerning  this  and  other  musical  instruments,  see  Jahn's  Archaeology, 
§  94,  95.  — bagpipe.  This  was  a  wind-instrument,  consisting  of 
pipes  annexed  to  a  bag.  It  is  still  called  in  Asia  Minor  Sambonja, 
and  in  Italy  Zanibogna,  names  which,  like  the  Chaldee,  are  borrowed 
from  the  Greek  avixcpQivia- 

22.  — the  command  of  the  king  was  urgent,  &c. :  and  thus  made  them 
hasty  and  precipitate,  so  that  they  came  too  near  the  fire. 

25.  —  a  son  of  the  gods ;  i.  e.  an  angel,  as  the  king  himself  explains  it, 
verse  28. 

IV.  8. — Belteshazzar,  according  to  the  name  of  my  God.  Beltcshaz- 
zar  is  a  compound  Avord,  meaning  BeVs  prince,  i.  e.  the  prince  Avhom 
Bel  favors. 

13. — a  watcher ;  i.  e.  an  angel,  so  called  from  his  office  of  watchij'g 
over  men.     See  Ps.  xci.  11. 


DANIEL 


399 


IQ,  — seven  times;  I.  c.  soA-en  years.  ,    ,      ,     r 

30      This  mav  be  a  description,  somewhat  hyperLolical,  of  a  species 

of  insanity,  or  a"  legend  of  some  prodigy  which  never  occurred  m  this 

form.     Conip.  ver.  34,  3G 

3^.  — the  end  of  the  dap;  i.  e.  the  seven  years,  verse  16. 

V  5  —the  hand.  What  in  the  Common  Version  is  rendered  pmi. 
of  tile  hand  is,  literally,  the  extremity  of  the  hand;  i.  e.  the  hand,  consid- 
ered as  an  extremity. 

6._/om<s  of  his  loins;  i.  e.  the  joints  of  his  back,  the  vertebiae. 

12.  — hard  sentences;  i.  e.  enigmas,  difficult  questions,  lit  A;»o/s 

26. —numbered  thj  kingdom;  i.  e.  he  hath  fixed  the  number  of  days 
and  years,  upon  the  completion  of  which  thy  kingdom  shall  be  at  an  end. 

VII.  2.— the  great  sea;  i.  e.  the  Mediterranean.  The  storm  upon 
the  great  sea  is  symbolical  of  great  wars,  revolutions,  &c. 

4.  The  first  ivas  like  a  lion.  The  Babylonian  kingdom  under  Neb- 
uchaelnezzar,  powerful  and  fierce,  denoted  by  the  head  of  g-old  in  ^eb- 
uchadnczzar's  dream.  -  tlu,  wings  of  an  eagle.  The  eagle  flies  highest 
and  swiftest,  and  thus  denotes  the  eminence  which  the  kingdom  at- 
tained, and  the  rapidity  of  its  conquests.  By  the  deprivation  of  its 
wings,  and  a  human  heart  being  given  to  it,  it  seems  to  be  denoted 
that  it  lost  its  glorv  and  power,  and  grew  less  ferocious. 

^.-the  second,  like  to  a  hear;  i.  e.  the  Median  empire,  which  was  to 
succeed  the  Babylonian,  answering  to  the  breast  and  arms  in  the 
ima-e  in  Nebuchadnezzar's  dream.  The  bear  is  fierce  and  strong, 
but  Inferior  to  the  lion.  -  on  one  side.  The  most  natura  explanation 
is  that  it  was  resting  on  one  of  its  fore-legs,  having  the  other  ex- 

^"""e.^li/Zfe  a  leopard;  i.  e.  the  Medo-Per-sian  kingdom  under  Cyrus, 
compared  to  a  leopard  for  fierceness  and  activity.  ,  ,  ^  ^  , 
7  _a  fourth  beast;  i.  e.  the  kingdom  of  Alexander  the  Great  and 
his  successors,  corresponding  to  the  legs  and  feet  of  the  image  in  Nebu- 
chadnezzar's  dream,  -ten  horns:  said,  in  verse  24,  to  denote  ten 
kings;  viz.  the  ten  kings  of  Syria,  or  heirs  or  claimants  of  its  throne, 
which  are  mentioned  rather  than  those  of  Egypt,  because  they  were 
the  causes  of  greater  calamity  and  oppression  to  the  Jewish  people. 
1.  Seleucus  I.  Nicator ;  2.  Antiochus  I.  Soter;  3.  Antiochus  11.  iheos; 
4.  Seleucus  II.  Callinicus ;  5.  Seleucus  III.  Ccraunus  ;  6.  Antiochus 
III.  the  Great;  7.  Seleucus  IV.  Philopator;  8.  Hcliodorus ;  9.  Itole- 
my  IV.  Philometor;  10.  Demetrius  I.;  11.  Antiochus  Epiphanes. 
See  a  good  discussion  of  this  subject  in  Stuart's  Commentary,  p.  208 

8  —another  little  horn;  i.  e.  Antiochus  Epiphanes.  See  viii.  26-^^. 
—  like  the  eyes  of  a  man:  denoting  intelligence,  perspicacity,  —spealc- 
inq  great  things.     Comp.  verse  25. 

9.-were  placed.  So  Apoc.  iv.  2,  "a  throne  was  set  -an  aged 
me.  Undoubtedly  the  Supreme  Being  is  intended.  But  it  is  not 
probable  that  the  expression  -ancient  of  days"  means  anything  more 


400  NOTES. 

than  an  aged  person  or  man.  It  does  not  appear  from  any  Old  Tes- 
tament usage  to  have  been  an  epitliet  exclusively  belonging  to  the 
Deity.  It  was  rather  the  intention  of  the  prophet  to  represent  the 
Deity  in  the  form  or  under  the  symbol  of  an  aged  man.  —  like  pure 
vxfol;  i.  e.  white  with  age. 

10. — the  tribunal.  See  verse  26.  Probably  certain  angels  of  the 
highest  order  are  denoted.  — the  books  ivere  opened;  i.  e.  "  records  con- 
taining all  that  relates  to  a  cause,  namely,  accusation,  defence,  testi- 
mony, documents."     Grot. 

11.  — the  beast  was  slain:  the  fourth  beast,  or  Syria,  Avhich  had  been 
so  long  contending  for  the  possession  of  Palestine,  and  had  inflicted 
upon  it  such  grievous  oppressions.      See  verse  7,  and  the  note. 

12.  —  a  season  and  a  time;  i.  e.  a  fixed  time  appointed  by  God,  be- 
yond which  it  could  not  exist. 

13. — a  son  of  man;  i.  e.  a  man.  See  Ezek.  ii.  1,  and  note;  also 
viii.  17.  — with  the  clouds  of  heaven.  Tliis  may  mean  that  the  Mes- 
siah, if  this  passage  refer  to  him,  was  represented  to  the  prophet's  vis- 
ion borne  upon  the  clouds,  as  a  chariot ;  or  that  he  shall  come  as 
swift  as  clouds  borne  by  the  wind.  See  Jer.  iv.  13.  Comp.  fUTO. 
TTuoifjs  dvefxoio,  Ilom.  Od.  II.  148.  But  see  the  Introduction,  Vol.  I. 
p.  xxxvi. 

22. — judgment  teas  rendered,  &c. ;  i.  e.  the  aged  person  symbolizing 
the  Supreme  Being  sat  on  a  tribunal  and  rendered  judgment. 

23.    Thefouith  beast,  &c.     See  note  on  verse  7. 

25.  —  times  and  laws:  such  as  sabbaths,  religious  ordinances,  &c. 
See  1  Mac.  i.  10  -  24,  41  —  64.  — a  time,  and  times,  and  half  a  time ;  i.  e. 
three  years  and  a  half.  See  Joseph.  Proem,  ad  Bell.  Jud.  §  7,  and 
Lib.  I.  Cap.  I.  §  1. 

VIII.  2.  Shushan ;  i.  c.  Susa,  the  capital  of  Susiana,  (and  of  all 
Persia,)  in  which  the  Persian  monarchs  held  their  winter  residence. 
Neh.  i.  1  ;  Esth.  i.  2.  It  was  situated  on  the  Eulajus  or  Choaspes, 
probably  on  the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  village  Shush ;  Ges.  ad  verb. 

3.  —  a  ram,  ichich  had  two  horns;  i.  e.  the  empire  of  the  Medes  and 
Persians,  as  explained  in  verse  20,  which  was  distinguished  among 
other  kingdoms,  as  the  ram  among  sheep.  — the  hi(jher;  i.  e.  the  Per- 
sian empire. 

5. — he-goat;  i.  e.  the  kingdom  of  Macedonia,  or  Greece,  under  Al- 
exander, previously  denoted  by  the  legs  and  feet  of  the  image  in  Neb- 
uchadnezzar's dream,  and  by  the  fourth  beast  in  vii.  6.  — ivichoui 
touching  the  ground ;  i.  e.  seeming  to  fly  rather  than  to  run.  So  Virgil 
of  Camilla:  Nee  teneras  cursu  kesisset  aristas.  {JEn.  VII.  809.)  So  the 
leopard  was  said  to  have  wings.  The  rapidity  of  Alexander's  con- 
quests is  denoted.  — a  conspicuous  horn  between  his  eyes ;  i.  e.  Alexan- 
der. The  horn  being  placed  between  his  eyes  may  denote  that  the 
power  of  Alexander  was  accompanied  by  sagacity  and  ]iolicy. 

8.  — four  conspicuous  ones;  i.  e.  the  four  parts  into  which  the  empire 
was  divided  by  Alexander's  generals  after  his  death. 


DANIEL.  401 

9.  —  a  liftJe  horn,  iclilch  became  excecdiyighj  great;  i.  e.  Antiochus  Epi- 
phanes,  Avho  was  at  the  bej^iuning  of  his  career  a  private  man,  and  at 
one  time  a  prisoner  and  liostage  at  Rome.  See  vii.  8.  —  the  beautiful 
land ;  i.  e.  Judjca.     See  Ezek.  xx.  6. 

10. — host  of  heaven.  This  term  seems  to  include  more  tlian  the 
stars.  It  denotes,  probably,  the  angels  by  which  God  was  supposed  to 
be  surrounded.  See  Job  xxxviii.  7.  Figuratively,  the  priests,  rulers, 
and  champions  of  the  Jewish  people  are  denoted.     See  note  on  ver.  11. 

11.  Prince  of  the  host;  i.  e.  God  himself,  called  Prince  of  princes, 
verse  25.  — from  him  ;  i.  e.  the  Prince  of  the  host.  — place  of  his  sanc- 
tuari/ ;  i,  e.  the  temple.  The  meaning  of  verses  10-12  is,  that  Anti- 
ochus set  himself  against  the  religion  of  the  Jews,  abused  its  ministers, 
and  profaned  and  desolated  the  temple.     See  1  Mac.  ch.  1. 

12.  Aiid  a  host;  i.  e.  a  band  employed  by  Antiochus  Epiphanes. 
Comp.  xi.  31,  xii.  11.  Otherwise,  And  the  host,  mentioned  in  the  pre- 
ceding verse,  shall  be  delivered  up  to  the  impious,  or,  on  account  of  impiety. 
—  truth ;  i.  e.  the  true  religion. 

13.  —  a  holy  one;  i.  e.  an  angel.  — of  the  destroyer:  otherwise,  of 
horror.  — sanctuary  and  the  host;  i.  e.  the  heavenly  host  mentioned  in 
ver.  10,  11. 

14.  —  evenings  and  mornings;  i.  e.  days.  The  time  when  the  writer 
supposed  this  period  to  begin  and  end  is  matter  of  uncertainty.  Prof. 
Stuart's  opinion  is,  that  the  sanctuary  was  cleansed  "  Avhen  Judas 
Maccabeus,  after  the  three  and  a  half  years  in  which  all  temple  rites 
had  been  suspended,  and  heathen  sacrifices  had  been  offered  there, 
made  a  thorough  expurgation  of  everything  pertaining  to  the  temple, 
and  restored  its  entire  services.  This  was  on  the  2.5th  of  December,  165 
B.  C,  just  three  years  from  the  time  when  swine's  flesh  was  first  offered 
there  by  Antiochus.  We  have  then  the  terminus  ad  quern  of  the  2300 
days ;  and  it  is  not  difficult,  therefore,  to  find  the  terminus  a  quo. 
These  days  at  thirty  in  a  month,  which  is  clearly  the  prophetic  mode 
of  reckoning,  make  six  years,  four  months,  and  twenty  days.  Dec.  25 
of  171  makes  six  years,  and  the  four  months  and  twenty  days  will  bring 
the  time  to  the  latter  half  of  July  in  the  same  year,  i.  e.  171  B.  C." 

16.  —  a  man's  voice;  i.  e.  the  voice  of  an  angel  resembling  the  hu- 
man voice.  The  Jews  suppose  Michael,  the  archangel,  to  have  been 
the  speaker. 

17. — time  of  the  end :  the  end  of  the  indignation,  ver.  19;  i.  e.  the 
calamitous  times  preceding  the  coming  of  the  Messiah. 

21.  —  the  king  of  Greece;  i.  e.  the  kings  of  Greece  collectively,  Greece 
with  its  king,  or,  the  kingdom  of  Greece.  So  vii.  17.  — the  first  king  ; 
i.  e.  the  first  who  extended  his  empire  into  Asia,  imlcss  Ave  understand 
the  4;erm  to  denote  first  in  eminence,  as  it  sometimes  does. 

22. — four  kingdoms  shall  arise.  1.  Macedonia,  or,  Greece.  2.  Asia 
Minor.     3.  Egypt.     4.  Babylon  and  Syria. 

23.  —  the  transgressors.  Some  suppose  the  Jews  to  be  denoted,  to 
punish  whom  Antiochus  was  raised  up ;  others,  the  subjects  of  the 
kingdom  just  mentioned.  — a  king  shall  arise;  i.  e.  Antiochus  Epi- 
phanes. 


402  NOTES. 

24.  —  7wf  hi/  his  oivn  strength  ;  i.  e.  not  so  mucli  by  force  as  by  policy, 
cunning,  fraud.     Sec  ver.  25.    — people  of  the  holy  ones ;  i.  e.  tlie  Jews. 

25.  —  in  the  midst  of  securitu ;  i.  e.  while  all  seems  to  be  peaceful,  and 
they  suspect  no  danger.  —  Prince  of  princes ;  i.  e.  God.  —  icithout 
hand:  not  by  any  visible  force,  or  the  interference  of  man. 

26.  — the  vision,  «Sbc, ;  i.  e.  of  the  2300  evenings  and  mornings,  dur- 
ing which  the  daily  sacrifices  should  be  interrupted..  See  ver.  13,  14. 
—  seal  up;  i.  e.  keep  them  secret;  or  record  the  vision,  and  seal  up  the 
book  that  contains  it.  See  xii.  4,  9.  — many  days;  i.  e.  a  remote 
period  of  time. 

27. — explained  it.     Comp.  ver.  16. 

IX.     2. — the  Boohs:  containing  the  prophecies  of  Jeremiah,  which 
were  on  different  rolls,  or  books.     See  Jer.  xxv.  11,  12  ;  xxix.  10. 
11. — laiu  of  Moses.     See  Levit.  xxvi.  14,  &c. ;  Deut.  xxviii.  15,  &c. 
12. — jiulges;  i.  e.  rulers  of  every  name. 

23.  —  a  word  ivent  forth ;  i.e.  from  God.  —  to  shoio  it  thee ;  for  thou 
art  greatly  beloved :  or,  to  show  thee  that  thou  art  greatly  beloved;  viz.  by 
bringing  an  answer  to  thy  prayer. 

24.  Seventy  iveeks,  &c.  In  reference  to  ver.  2,  &c.,  where  Daniel 
is  represented  as  considering  Jeremiah's  prediction  of  the  seventy 
years'  desolation  of  Jerusalem,  and  i)raying  for  deliverance,  the  angel 
Gabriel  informs  Daniel  that  seventy  weeks  or  heptades  of  years,  i.  e. 
490  years,  are  appointed  for  Jerusalem's  low  condition.  Whether  tho 
seventy  weeks  of  years  are  given  by  the  angel  as  a  mystical  interpreta- 
tion of  the  seventy  years  of  Jeremiah,  or  as  a  new  prediction,  is  uncer- 
tain.    This  verse  appears  to  contain  a  series  of  parallelisms,  thus  :  — 

1.  Seventy  weeks  are  determined  concerning  thy  people, 
And  concerning  thy  holy  city, 

2.  To  complete  the  iniquity, 

And  to  fill  up  the  measure  of  the  sins, 

3.  And  to  expiate  the  guilt, 

And  to  bring  in  everlasting  righteousness, 

4.  And  to  seal  vision  and  prophet. 
And  to  anoint  a  holy  of  holies. 

In  the  rendering,  ^'  to  fill  up  the  measure  of  the  sins,"  I  have  adopted  the 
Keri  as  the  true  reading,  as  probably  did  the  authors  of  the  Common 
Version.  It  was  the  reading  of  the  Syriac  and  Vulgate,  and  is  siij)- 
portcd  by  the  parallel  expression  in  viii.  23.  If  this  be  the  true  read- 
ing, it  is  probable  that  it  denotes  "  to  fill  up  the  measure  of  the  sins," 
as  it  certainly  does  in  viii.  23.  If  this  be  so,  then  to  complete  tlie 
iniquity  is  a  more  natural  rendering  of  the  parallel  word,  than  to  finish, 
in  the  sense  of  putting  an  end  to.  It  also  appears  to  me  more  likely 
that  the  second  couplet  contains  a  different  sentiment  from  couplet 
3,  than  that  four  expressions  should  be  used  to  denote  nearly  the 
same  thought.  In  regard  to  the  sentiment,  the  idea  seems  to  be,  that 
the  people  were  allowed  a  certain  space  of  time  to  fill  up  the  measure 


DANIEL.  403 

of  their  iniquities,  before  suffering  certain  great  calamities.  Comp. 
viii.  23;  Gen.  xv.  16;  1  Thess.  ii.  16.  — to  expiate  the  guilt;  i.  e.  by 
the  calamities  which  came  upon  the  Jews.  Comp.  Is.  xl.  2.  — to 
bring  in  everlasting  righteousness,  or,  as  Gescnius  translates,  the  righteous- 
ness of  ancient  times.  The  piety  of  the  ancient  fathers  is  thus  referred 
to  in  Ps.  cxxxix.  24,  And  lead  me  in  the  ancient  way.  See  also  Jer.  vi. 
16  ;  xviii.  15.  — to  seal  vision  and  prophet ;  i.  e.  to  fulfil  the  predictions 
of  the  prophet,  —  by  which  term  the  prophets  generally  may  be  de- 
noted ;  and  the  term  prophet  or  prophets  denotes  prophecy  or  prophecies, 
according  to  the  idiom  by  which  we  say  that  we  have  read  an  author, 
meaning  the  writings  of  the  author.  — to  anoint  a  holy  of  holies ;  i.  e. 
to  consecrate  or  purify  the  temple.  That  the  phrase  cannot  be  applied 
to  a  person  is  plain  from  the  fact  that  it  is  of  frequent  occurrence  in  the 
Old  Testament,  and  is  never  applied  to  persons,  but  always  to  things. 
It  has  been  said  that,  if  the  temple  were  referred  to,  the  article  would 
have  been  prefixed  to  the  Hebrew  term  for  holy  of  holies.  But  after 
the  temple  had  been  desecrated  by  Antiochus  Epiphanes,  it  could  hardly 
be  called  the  most  holy  temple  of  the  Lord,  and  so  the  reconsecration 
of  it  would  be  properly  spoken  of  as  anointing  a  new  holy  of  holies. 

2.5.  —  the  ivord ;  i.  e.  which  came  from  God  to  Jeremiah,  that  Jerusa- 
lem should  be  rebuilt  after  seventy  years,  ver.  2.  This  reference  seems 
to  be  demanded  by  that  principle  of  interpretation  which  requires  that 
regard  should  be  paid  to  the  connection  of  the  discourse.  All  other  refer- 
ences which  have  been  proposed  by  different  expositors  fail  in  this  es- 
sential respect.  — an  anointed  one,  a  prince.  Some  of  those  who  sup- 
pose the  Messiah  to  be  here  denoted,  Hengstenberg  for  instance,  Chris- 
tol.  Theil.  II.  p.  459,  as  well  as  those  who  suppose  Cyrus  to  be  the 
anointed  prince  here  mentioned,  yet  maintain  that  the  indefinite  article 
is  required  by  the  original.  That  Cyrus,  who  is  called  Jehovah's 
anointed  in  Is.  xlv.  1,  is  the  prince  referred  to,  seems  to  admit  of 
little  doubt.  Prof.  Stuart  justly  remarks  that,  if  it  had  related  to  the 
predicted  IMcssiah,  the  Great  Deliverer,  then  of  course  n"'K'0,  being 
an  appellative,  must  have  had  the  article.  If  it  be  said  that  the  terra 
may  have  had  the  force  of  a  proper  name,  and  so  may  have  been  used 
without  the  article,  the  answer  is,  that  in  that  case  the  next  word, 
Tiji  would  certainly  have  liad  the  article.  That  Cyrus  was  denoted 
is  the  most  probable  supposition.  Compare  the  prediction  in  Jer. 
XXX.,  xxxi.,  made  about  588  before  Christ.  JTrom  588  A.  C.  to 
Cyrus  was  not  much  over  seven  weeks  of  years,  or  forty-nine  years. 
This  was  near  enough  for  the  purposes  of  the  writer,  whether  his 
acquaintance  with  chronology  and  history  was  great  or  little.  — seven 
iveeks.  The  pointing  here  adopted,  placing  a  semicolon  after  "  seven 
weeks,"  is  that  of  the  Common  Version,  as  it  came  from  the  hands 
of  the  translators ;  as  appears  from  most  of  the  ancient  copies,  and  es- 
pecially from  the  fac-simile  of  the  first  edition  of  it,  printed  in  Oxford, 
1833.  In  most  copies  of  the  Common  Version,  as  it  is  now  printed, 
there  is  no  stop  after  "  seven  weeks,"  so  that  it  reads  "  seven  weeks 
and   threescore   and   two   weeks,"  i.  e.  sixty-nine   weeks.     I   doubt 


40^  NOTES. 

whether  such  a  form  of  expression,  to  denote  sixty-nine,  can  be  jus- 
tified by  the  usage  of  the  Hebrew  or  any  other  hmguage.  — with 
streets  and  moats,  &c.  I  suppose  the  meaning  to  be,  that  during  62 
weeks,  or  434  years,  the  people  should  rebuild  the  city,  and  inhabit  it, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  an  important  event  should  take  place, 
mentioned  in  the  next  verse.  It  is  not  to  be  construed  strictly, 
however,  as  if  it  was  in  the  process  of  rebuilding  the  whole  of  that 
time.  — yet  in  troublous  times.  See  Ezra  ch.  iv,  ;  Neb.  i.  3,  iv.  1,  &c., 
vi.  1,  &c.,  ix.  35,  37.  See  also  the  history  of  this  period  in  JNIilmau's 
History  of  the  Jews. 

As  to  the  chronology  of  the  wliolc  seventy  weeks,  we  have  neither 
space  nor  inclination  to  enter  into  the  discussion  of  a  matter  of  so  lit- 
tle consequence.  I  suppose  there  is  a  somcwliat  arbitrary  use  of  the 
number  seven,  and  considerable  want  of  acijuaintance  with  history  and 
chronology  on  the  part  of  the  writer.  In  view  of  the  great  variety  of 
interpretations  on  the  side  of  the  modern,  as  well  as  the  older  critics, 
which  have  come  within  the  compass  of  my  reading.  Dr.  Davidson  in 
his  Introduction,  Vol.  III.  p.  221,  in  accordance  with  several  German 
critics,  seems  to  me  to  give  the  most  correct  judgment.  "  The  first 
week  reaches  from  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem  to  Cyrus.  The  sixty- 
two  weeks  extend  from  Cyrus  to  Antiochus  Epiphanes.  The  last 
week  embraces  tlie  period  of  Antiochus's  tyranny.  These  numbers 
are  round,  not  exact  ones.  The  sixty-two  weeks  make  434  years  j  but 
so  long  a  time  did  not  elapse  between  Cyrus  and  Antiochus.  The 
period  is  considerably  less.  Fifty-two  weeks  would  have  been  nearer. 
But  there  were  no  dates  for  the  time  in  any  prior  work.  The  writer 
had  no  guide.  He  was  therefore  free  to  follow  an  inexact  chronology 
in  a  matter  of  no  real  importance.  He  adopts  sixty-two,  because  he 
had  one  to  take  for  Antiochus's  reign,  which  is  the  nearest  he  could 
have  for  it,  without  dividing  weeks  into  fractional  parts.  Thus,  the 
seventy  weeks  are  made  up  of  the  successive  7  +  62-1-1.  The  main 
jjoint  to  be  looked  at  is,  that  the  reckoning  is  not  by  a  definite  number 
of  days,  as  in  the  eighth  and  twelfth  chaiitcrs,  but  in  round  numbers 
based  on  the  sacred  number  secen,  having  special  reference  to  the 
seventy  years  of  Jeremiah.  The  si/mbolical  element  predominates  over 
the  chronological.  If  the  seventy  years  of  Jeremiah  be  a  round  number, 
not  an  exact  one,  we  cannot  reasonably  expect  an  exact  coincidence  in 
the  seventy  sevens.  The  first  seven  are  specified  as  so  many  by  them- 
selves, merely  because  they  remain  after  the  62  -f- 1  are  subtracted  from 
seventy."     Compare  the  three  times  fourteen  generations  in  Matt.  i.  17. 

26.  —  an  anointed  one  he  cut  off;  i.  e.  a  king,  or  priest.  Here,  as  in 
the  last  verse,  the  absence  of  the  Hebrew  article  before  n'lyo,  ««  anoint- 
ed one,  proves  conclusively  that  it  does  not  refer  to  the  anointed  one  in 
the  last  verse,  or  to  the  great  expected  Deliverer  of  the  Jews,  the  Mes- 
siah. Other  hermeneutical  considerations  which  forbid  such  a  refei*- 
ence  are  well  stated  by  Frof.  Stuart  in  his  Commentary  ad  loc,  and  by 
Davidson  in  his  Introduction,  Vol,  III.  p.  321.  Whatever  be  the 
meaning  of  this  obscure  passage,  it  is  certain,  as  it  seems  to  nic,  that 


DANIEL.  405 

Hebrew  grammar  and  the  fundamental  laws  of  interpretation  are  abso- 
lutely against  its  application  to  the  INIessiah.  It  seems  to  me  must 
probable  that  it  refers  to  Seleucus  Philopator,  who  is  referred  to  in 
xi.  20.  So  Lengcrke,  Maurci-,  Ewald,  Bleck,  and  Davidson.  Pi  of. 
Stuart,  with  Eichhorn,  Hitzig,  and  Reichel,  supposes  the  anointed  one 
to  be  Onias  III.,  the  Jewish  priest,  who  was  murdered  by  Androni- 
cus,  as  rchited  in  2  Mace.  iv.  34.  —  to  him  a  successor,  i.  e.  a  lineal  one  ; 
or  a  helper,  the  word  wliich  is  used  in  a  similar  connection  in  xi.  45. 
Hengstenberg  renders  the  phrase,  "and  there  is  not  to  him,"  i.  e.  pow- 
er, or  dominion,  &c.  -^  a  prince  that  shall  come ;  1.  e.  Antiochus  Epi- 
phanes,  who  is  referred  to  in  viii.  9-12,  23,  25,  xi.  21  -45  ;  1  Mace. 
i.,  vi.  — whose  end;  i,  e.  the  end  of  the  tyrannical  prince  Antiochus. 
—  as  in  a  flood.  The  article  seems  to  be  prefixed  in  the  original,  not 
to  denote  a  particular  flood,  but  according  to  the  well-known  Hebrew 
usage,  according  to  which  it  is  prefixed  to  any  well-known  or  highly 
interesting  substance  or  event.  Thus,  in  Gen.  ii.  11,  where  is  the  gold. 
So  in  Dan.  xi.  22  we  find  the  same  idiom.  See  Ges.  Gram.  §  109,  3,  a. 
Besides,  it  is  only  the  vowel-points  which  constitute  the  article  in  this 
case,  and  these  give  us  merely  the  interpretation  of  Jewish  grammari- 
ans who  lived  several  hundred  years  after  the  time  of  the  writer.  — to 
the  end,  &c.  By  the  end  is  probably  denoted  the  end  of  present  things, 
or  of  the  world  before  the  coming  of  the  Messianic  times.  See  ch.  xii. 
Corap.  viii.  17,  19;  xi.  35;  xii.  13. 

27.  And  he  will  establish  a  covenant  with  many  for  one  week;  i.  e.  a 
considerable  time,  designated  by  the  round  number  one  week,  or  seven 
years.  This  refers  to  the  fact  that  Antiochus  persuaded  many  of  the 
Jews  to  abandon  their  religion  and  adopt  the  religion  and  customs  of 
the  Gentiles.  See  1  Mace.  i.  11,  &c.,  41 ;  2  Mace,  iv,  9.  — wimj  of 
abominations ;  i.  e.  wing  of  the  temple,  defiled  by  blood,  and  by  the 
abominable  heathenish  symbols,  or  idols,  placed  there  by  the  destroi/er, 
Antiochus  Epiphanes.  Comp.  xi.  31;  xii.  11;  1  Mace.  vi.  7.  As 
the  term  njD,  ivim/,  is  often  used  in  the  Old  Testament  to  denote  the 
extreme  part  or  border  of  anything,  it  seems  to  me  that  there  is  no 
more  probable  meaning  of  the  term  here  than  of  the  extreme  part  of 
the  temple  upward  ;  i.  e.  the  top,  summit,  pinnacle.  So  in  the  New  Tes- 
tament irrepvyiov  tov  Upov,  Matt.  iv.  5.  See  the  Lexicons  of  Ges. 
and  Filrst,  ad  verb.  — poured  out  xipon  the  destroyer ;  i.  e.  Antiochus 
Epiphanes.  I  have  considerable  doubt  as  to  the  rendering  of  the  last 
word  of  this  verse  ;  and  retain  it  because  I  have  greater  doubts  in  re- 
gard to  the  rendering  of  Stuart,  Hengstenberg,  or  Ilitzig.  My  doubt 
relates  not  to  the  active  sense  of  the  verb,  which  is  made  probable  in 
the  Lexicon  of  Gesenius.  But  it  is  not  easy  to  see  why  the  Poel  form, 
DDtyn  should  be  used  in  the  former  clause,  the  abominations  of  the  de- 
stroyer, and  the  Kal,  D'Oliy,  in  the  latter  clause,  poured  out  upon  the 
destroyer.  And  yet  an  equally  arbitrary  change  of  words  occurs  in 
Ezek.  xxxii.  25,  26,  where  in  the  former  verse  we  have  ^nn  'SSn, 
and  in  the  latter,  jn^n  'l?SlirO,  slain  with  the  sword.  The  rendering  of 
Hitzig,  however,  who  regards  both  words  as  nouns  having  the  same 


406  NOTES. 

signification,  Iwiror,  seems  liable  to  the  same  objection.  The  render- 
ing, until  decreed  desolation  be  outpoured  upon  the  desolated,  which  is 
adopted  by  Dr.  Pusey,  is  liable  to  an  objection  which  must  be  obvious 
to  every  reader.  It  may,  indeed,  be  said  that  absolute  and  complete 
desolation  is  denoted  by  nS^,  and  partial,^  unfinished  desolation  by 
DDTiy,  desolated.  But  this  is  very  unsatisfactory.  At  any  rate,  Zl'QW^ 
if  considered  as  a  masculine  participle,  must  refer  to  a  person,  not  a 
thing.  In  which  case  the  destroyer  Antiochus  Epiphanes  will  be  re- 
ferred to  as  well  as  by  the  rendering  which  I  have  preferred.  The 
rendering  of  Professor  Stuart,  upon  Jum  who  is  to  be  destroyed,  is  well 
suited  to  the  connection,  but  is  liable  to  the  objectio-n  that  no  ex- 
ample is  adduced  by  him  in  which  the  Kal  participle  is  used  in  this 
sense,  either  in  respect  to  this  or  any  other  verb.  Neither  is  this  ren- 
dering so  suitable  in  viii.  13;  xii.  11. 

As  great  interest  is  still  felt  by  many  in  this  enigmatical  passage, 
I  subjoin  translations  of  it  by  several  writers,  of  different  biases,  well 
know^n  in  the  theological  world. 

De  Wette's. 

(Die  Heilige  Schrift  ubasetzt,  3e  Aufl.,  II.  313.) 

Seventy  sevens  are  determined  concerning  thy  people  and  concerning 
thy  holy  city,  till  the  iniquity  be  completed,  and  the  sins  sealed,  and 
the  guilt  expiated,  and  everlasting  righteousness  brought  in,  and  vis- 
ion and  prophet  sealed,  and  the  holy  of  holies  anointed.  KnoAV 
therefore  and  mark :  from  the  going  forth  of  the  word  [which  came 
to  Jeremiah]  that  Jerusalem  should  be  again  restored  and  built,  to 
an  anointed  prince,  are  seven  sevens ;  and  in  sixty-two  sevens  shall 
it  again  be  restored  and  built  with  streets  and  moats,  but  in  distress- 
ful times.  And  after  the  sixty-two  sevens  shall  an  anointed  one  be 
cut  off,  and  no  one  is  at  hand  who  belongs  to  him,  and  the  city  and 
the  sanctuary  shall  be  laid  waste  by  the  people  of  a  prince  who  comes, 
and  whose  end  is  [as]  in  a  flood,  and  even  to  the  end  shall.be  war,  a 
decree  of  desolations.  And  he  shall  establish  the  covenant  with  many, 
during  one  seven,  and  during  the  half  of  the  seven  will  he  cause  sacri- 
fice and  oblation  to  cease,  and  over  the  pinnacle  of  the  abomination 
shall  be  the  destroyer,  and  indeed  until  destruction  and  what  is 
decreed  be  poured  out  upon  the  destroyer. 

Hengstexgberg's. 

{Christologie  des  Alten  Testaments,  2  Ausg.,  1856,  Bd.  III.  Abth.  I.  pp. 
24,  59,  79,  95.) 

Seventy  weeks  are  cut  off  concerning  thy  people,  and  concerning 
thy  holy  city,  to  shut  up  the  iniquity,  and  to  seal  up  sins,  and  to  cover 
transgression,  and  to  bring  everlasting  righteousness  ;  and  to  seal  up 
vision  and  prophet,  and  to  anoint  a  holy  of  holies.  And  thou  must 
know  and  understand :  from  the  ffoinff  forth  of  the  word  to  restore 


DANIEL.  407 

and  to  build  Jerusalem  to  an  anointed  one,  a  prince,  arc  seven  weeks 
and  sixty-two  weeks ;  streets  will  be  restored  and  built,  and  it  is  firmly 
determined ;  but  in  disti'css  of  the  times.  And  after  the  sixty-two  weeks 
an  anointed  one  shall  be  cut  otF,  and  there  is  not  to  him  [dominion] ; 
and  the  city  and  the  sanctuary  people  of  a  prince,  the  coming  one, 
shall  lay  waste,  and  it  will  end  in  the  flood,  and  even  to  the  end  is 
war,  a  decree  of  the  rains.  And  one  week  will  strengthen  the  cove- 
nant with  the  many,  and  the  half  of  the  week  will  cause  sacrifice  and 
oblation  to  cease,  and  over  the  summit  of  abomination  comes  the 
desolater,  and,  indeed,  until  that  which  is  completed  and  cut  off  shall 
rain  down  upon  the  desolate  one. 

Maurer's. 

Seventy  weeks  are  determined  concerning  thy  people  and  concern- 
ing thy  holy  city,  to  complete  the  iniquity,  and  to  fill  up  the  sins,  and 
to  expiate  the  guilt,  and  to  bring  in  everlasting  righteousness,  and  to 
fulfil  vision  and  prophecy,  and  to  anoint  the  holy  of  holies.  Know 
therefore  and  attend  !  From  the  going  forth  of  the  oracle  concerning 
the  restoration  and  building  up  of  Jerusalem  to  an  anointed  one,  a 
prince,  shall  be  seven  weeks.  Ajid  during  sixty-two  weeks  shall  it  be 
restored  and  built  with  street  and  moat,  and  that  in  distressful  times. 
And  after  the  sixty-two  weeks  shall  an  anointed  one  be  cut  off^,  and 
no  [anointed]  one  will  be  to  him  [i.  e.  no  legitimate  successor  and 
heir] ;  and  the  city  and  the  sanctuary  shall  the  people  of  a  prince  who 
is  to  come  destroy,  whose  end  will  be  [as]  in  a  flood ;  and  to  the  end 
[of  Antiochus]  shall  be  war,  decreed  desolations.  And  he  shall  make 
a  firm  covenant  with  many  for  one  week ;  and  for  half  of  the  week 
will  he  cause  sacrifice  and  oblation  to  cease,  and  upon  the  wing  of 
abominations  [i.  e.  upon  the  profaned  wing  of  the  temple]  shall  be 
the  destroyer,  and  indeed  until  destruction  and  what  is  decreed  [of 
punishment]  shall  be  poured  out  upon  the  destroyer. 


Prof.  Stuart's. 

Seventy  weeks  are  decided  respecting  thy  people  and  thy  holy  city, 
to  restrain  transgression,  and  to  seal  up  sin,  and  to  expiate  iniquity ; 
and  to  bring  in  everlasting  righteousness,  and  to  seal  vision  and  proph- 
ecy, and  to  anoint  a  holy  of  holies.  Mark  well  and  understand ; 
from  the  going  forth  of  a  command  to  rebuild  Jerusalem  unto  an 
anointed  one,  a  prince,  shall  be  seven  weeks ;  and  sixty  and  two 
weeks  shall  it  be  rebuilt,  with  broad  spaces  and  narrow  limits,  and  in 
troublous  times.  And  after  sixty  and  two  weeks  an  anointed  one 
shall  be  cut  off^  and  there  shall  be  none  for  it  [the  people] ,  and  the 
city  and  the  sanctuary  shall  the  people  of  a  prince  that  will  come 
destroy ;  but  his  end  shall  be  with  an  overwhelming  flood,  and  unto 
the  end  shall  be  war,  a  decreed  measure  of  desolations.  And  he  shall 
firmly  covenant  with  many  for  one  week  ;  and  during  half  of  the  week 
shall  he  cause  the  sacrifice  and  oblation  to  cease ;  and  a  waster  shaU 


408  NOTES. 

be  over  a  winged-fowl  of  abominations ;  but  unto  destruction,  even 
that  which  is  decreed,  shall  there  be  an  outpouring  upon  him  who  is 
to  be  destroyed. 

Ewald's. 

{Die  Propheten  des  Alien  Bmdes,  II.  568.) 

Seventy  weeks  are  determined  concerning  thy  people  and  thy  holy 
city,  till  the  iniquity  be  completed  and  the  sins  brought  to  the  height, 
till  the  guilt  be  expiated,  and  everlasting  righteousness  be  brought, 
till  prophecy  and  prophet  be  sealed,  and  the  holy  of  holies  be  anointed. 
And  thou  must  know  and  understand  :  from  the  going  forth  of  the 
oracle  to  restore  and  build  up  Jerusalem  to  an  anointed  one,  a  prince, 
are  seven  weeks ;  and  through  sixty-two  weeks  shall  it  be  rebuilt  with 
street  and  moat,  but  in  distress  of  the  times ;  and  after  the  sixty-two 
weeks  shall  an  anointed  one  be  cut  off,  and  have  none  [no  lineal 
successor],  and  the  city  and  the  sanctuary  shall  the  people  of  the  prince 
destroy  who  comes  overflowing  with  the  march  of  his  army ;  yet  to  the 
end  of  the  war  belongs  the  terrible  decision;  i.  e.  [coming  from  God] 
he  shall  make  a  covenant  with  many  during  one  week,  and  the  half- 
week  shall  he  cause  sacrifice  and  oblation  to  cease,  —  and,  indeed,  on 
account  of  the  terrible  climax  of  abominations,  —  yet  [only]  till 
destruction  and  decision  is  poured  out  upon  the  terrible  [thing]. 

Hitzig's. 

{Das  Buck  Daniel  erlddrt,  pp.  153-168.) 

Seventy  weeks  are  cut  off  concerning  thy  people  and  thy  holy  city, 
to  complete  the  apostasy,  and  to  fill  up  the  measure  of  sins,  to  for- 
give guilt,  and  to  bring  in  everlasting  righteousness,  to  seal  revela- 
tion and  prophet,  and  to  anoint  a  holy  of  holies.  And  thou  must 
know  and  understand  it ;  from  the  going  forth  of  an  oracle  to  restore 
and  build  Jerusalem  to  an  anointed  one,  a  prince,  are  seven  weeks; 
and  during  sixty-two  weeks  will  it  be  restored  and  built  with  street 
and  court,  but  in  distress  of  the  times.  And  after  the  sixty-two  weeks 
will  an  anointed  one  be  cut  oflf,  and  be  no  more ;  and  the  city  and  the 
sanctuary  shall  be  destroyed  by  the  people  of  a  prince,  who  will  come 
and  end  with  a  flood ;  and  even  to  the  end  endurcth  war,  destiny  of 
desolation.  And  one  week  will  make  the  covenant  heavy  for  many, 
and  the  half  of  the  week  M'ill  cause  sacrifice  and  oblation  to  cease,  and 
upon  the  wing  shall  be  abominations  of  horror;  even  to  the  decreed 
destruction  shall  it  [destruction]  be  poured  out  upon  tliat  which  is 
the  object  of  horror. 

Dr.  Davidson's. 

Seventy  sevens  arc  determined  upon  thy  people  and  upon  thy  holy 
city  to  accomplish  the  apostasy,  and  to  fill  up  the  sins,  and  to  expiate 
iniquity,  and  to  bring  in  everlasting  righteousness,  and  to  seal  up  visioa 


DANIEL.  409 

and  prophet,  and  to  anoint  a  most  holy  phice.  Know,  therefore,  and 
understand,  from  the  going  forth  of  the  word  to  build  Jerusalem  again 
till  an  anointed  one,  a  prince,  shall  be  seven  weeks,  and  for  three- 
score and  two  weeks  will  it  be  rebuilt  with  streets  and  ditches,  yet  in 
distressful  times.  And  after  the  threescore  and  two  weeks  shall  an 
anointed  one  be  cut  off,  and  have  no  successor;  and  the  people  of  a 
prince  that  shall  come  shall  destroy  the  city  and  sanctuary,  and  his 
end  will  be  in  the  flood;  and  yet  till  the  end  continues  war,  desolations 
decreed.  And  he  shall  confirm  the  covenant  with  many  for  one  week  ; 
and  the  half  of  the  week  will  put  a  stop  to  the  sacrifice  and  oblation ; 
and  upon  the  wing  of  abominations  (comes)  the  desolater,  even  to  the 
completion ;  then  shall  the  decreed  destruction  be  poured  out  on  the 
waster. 

Dr.  Pusey's. 

Seventy  seven-times  are  determined  upon  thy  people  and  upon  thy 
holy  city,  to  close  the  transgression,  and  to  seal  np  sins,  and  to  make 
reconciliation  for  iniquity ;  to  bring  in  everlasting  I'ighteousness,  and 
to  seal  up  vision  and  prophecy,  and  to  anoint  a  holy  of  holies.  Know 
therefore,  and  understand.  From  the  going  forth  of  a  commandment 
[of  God]  to  restore  and  to  build  Jerusalem,  unto  Messiah  the  Prince, 
shall  be  seven  weeks  and  threescore  and  two  weeks ;  street  and  wall 
shall  be  restored  and  builded ;  a»d  in  strait  of  times.  And  after  the 
threescore  and  two  weeks  shall  Messiah  be  cut  off;  and  there  shall  not 
be  to  him,  i.  e.  [his  people.]  And  the  city  and  the  sanctuary  the 
people  of  a  prince  who  shall  come  shall  destroy ;  and  the  end  thereof 
shall  be  with  that  flood ;  and  unto  the  end  war  and  desolatenesses 
decreed.  He  shall  make  firm  a  covenant  with  the  many  during  one 
week ;  and  in  the  midst  of  the  week  he  shall  make  sacrifice  and  obla- 
tion to  cease,  and  upon  the  pinnacle  of  abominations  a  desolater,  and 
that,  until  decreed  desolation  be  outpoured  upon  the  desolated. 

X.     1.  —  warfare;  i.  e.  state  of  trouble. 

5.  —  Hiddekel ;  i.  e.  the  Tigris.  — a  certain  man;  i.  e.  an  angel. 
See  viii.  16. 

12. — chasten  thyself ;  i.  e.  by  fasting,  abstaining  from  pleasant  food, 
&c.,  ver.  2,  3. 

13. — prince  of  the  kingdom  of  Persia;  i.  e.  the  archangel,  the  patron 
of  the  kingdom  of  Persia ;  according  to  the  prevalent  belief  that  par- 
ticular nations  had  angels,  who  were  their  patrons  and  advocates  be- 
fore God.  —  chief  princes ;  i.  e.  of  the  angelic  orders.  —  with  the  kings 
of  Pei'sia ;  i.  e.  to  influence  them  as  I  pleased.  Kings  seems  to  de- 
note the  king  and  prince,  or,  in  general,  the  dynasty  of  the  country. 

20. — prince  of  Persia — prince  of  Greece.  Some  understand  the  an- 
gel patrons  of  these  kingdoms ;  others,  less  ])robably,  (heir  earthly  rul- 
ers.   —  will  come;  i.  e.  as  an  enemy  against  the  Jews. 

21.  —  Michael,  your  prince ;  i.  e.  guardian  angel. 
VOL.  II.  18 


410  NOTES. 

XT.  2. — yet;  i.  e.  after  Cyrus.  See  x.  1.  — three  Icings;  i.  e.  Cam- 
byses,  Smerdis  or  Pseudo-Smerdis,  and  Darius  the  son  of  Hystaspes. 

—  the  fourth;  i.  e.  Xerxes.  See  Prideaux's  Connection,  Vol.  I.  Part 
I.  Book  3. 

3.  —  a  mighty  Jcing ;  i.  e.  Alexander  the  Great. 

5.  —  Jcing  of  the  South;  i.e.  Ptolemy,  the  son  of  Lagus,  king  of 
Egypt,  who  is  mentioned  because  he  took  Jerusalem  by  treachery. 
See  Joseph.  XII.  1.  — one  of  his  princes ;  i.  e.  of  the  princes  of  Alex- 
ander, viz.  Seleucus  Nicator,  king  of  Syria,  who  overcame  Demetrius, 
and  added  Asia  Minor  to  his  empire. 

6.  —  they  shall  ally  themselves ;  i.e.  the  successors  of  the  kings  just 
mentioned.  — the  daughter;  i.  e.  Berenice,  daughter  of  Ptolemy  Phil- 
adelphus,  who  brought  her  to  Pelusium  with  a  great  dowry,  to  be  mar- 
ried to  Antiochus  Qeos,  or  the  Divine,  in  order  to  cement  the  treaty  of 
peace  between  the  two  kings.  —  but  she  shall  not  retain  the  power,  &c. 
Antiochus  put  away  Berenice,  and  took  again  his  former  wife  Laodice, 
which  latter,  fearing  the  fickle  disposition  of  her  husband,  put  him  to 
death  by  poison,  and  set  up  her  son,  Seleucus  Callinicus,  in  his  stead. 
She  also  caused  Berenice  and  her  son  to  be  put  to  death,  and  was 
finally  slain  herself  by  her  son  al)0ve  mentioned.  See  Appian,  Syr. 
LXV.  §  75  -  85.  Justin,  Hist.,  Lib.  XXVII,  Cap.  1.  Valerius  Max- 
imus,  Hist.  Varr.,  Lib.  IX.  Cap.  14.  — given  up;  i.  e.  to  be  put  to 
death.   — he  that  received  her;  i.  e.  Antiochus  Theos. 

7. — one  arise;  i.  e.  Ptolemy  Euergotes,  brother  of  Berenice,  who  in- 
vaded and  took  a  great  part  of  Syria.  — king  of  the  North;  i.  e.  Seleu- 
cus Callinicus,  son  of  Laodice. 

10.  —  his  sons;  i.  e.  Seleucus  Ceraunus,  and  Antiochus  the  Great, 
sons  of  Seleucus  Callinicus,  king  of  Syria.  —  one  of  them ;  i.  e.  An- 
tiochus the  Great,   his  brother  Seleucus  having  been   put   to   death. 

—  his  fortress;  viz.  of  tlie  king  of  Egypt,  Ptolemy  Philopator.  By  his 
fortress  is  probably  to  be  understood  the  city  Raphia,  at  the  entrance 
of  Egypt. 

11.  —  the  mdtitude  shall  he  given  into  his  hand;  i.  e.  put  under  his 
control  or  command.     He  Avill  take  command  of  them  in  person. 

14. — king  of  tlie  South;  i.  e.  Ptolemy  Epiphanes.  — to  establish  the 
vision;  i.  e.  those  declarations  of  the  prophets  which  denounce  all 
kinds  of  calamities  against  the  disobedient. 

15.  —  arms  of  the  South;  i.  e.  the  forces  of  the  king  of  the  South. 

16.  And  he  that  cometh,  &c. ;  i.  e.  Antiochus,  as  before.  — the 
beautiful  land ;  i.  e.  Judaea. 

17. — set  his  face  to  come;  i.  e.  to  invade  Egypt.  — and  shall  make 
pacification.  So  the  Sept.,  Theod.,  and  Vulgate.  — his  daughter.  Anti- 
ochus gave  his  daughter  Cleopatra  in  marriage  to  Ptplemy  Epiphanes, 
with  the  treacherous  design  of  thereby  getting  possessi(  n  of  his  kingdom. 

18.  —  isles:  the  countries  on  the  sea-coast,  such  as  Asia  Minor  and 
Greece,  may  be  included  in  the  term,  — a  commander;  i.  e.  Lucius 
Bcipio  Nasica.    — his  scorn:  his  scornful  and  unjust  treatment, 

20.  —  one  who  shall  send;  i.  e.  Seleucus  Philopator,  son  of  Antiochus 


DANIEL.  411 

the  Great.  — (jlory  of  his  Tcingdom;  i.  e.  Judaea.  See  verses  16,  41,  and 
viii.  9.  — milker  by  anger  nor  by  battle;  i.  e.  he  shall  die  an  inglorious 
death,  without  the  fame  that  follows  those  who  die  in  angry  contest 
with  their  enemies.  Livy  relates,  Lib.  XLI.  cap.  19,  that  Seleucua 
was  slain  by  the  secret  treachery  of  Heliodorus,  one  of  his  courtiers. 
See  also  Appian,  Syr.,  cap.  45,  §  65. 

21 a  despised  person,  &c. ;  i.  e.  Antiochus  Epiphanes,  i,  e.  the  Illus- 
trious, as  he  is  usually  called,  or  Epimanes,  th«  Mad,  as  sometimes. 
He  was  despised  for  his  low  manners  and  habits.  See  Milman's  Hist, 
of  the  Jews,  Vol.  11,  p.  35.  — they  shall  not  give;  i.  e.  the  people. 
Antiochus  was  not  heir  to  the  kingdom,  as  he  was  the  brother  of 
Seleucus  Philopator,  who  had  a  son.  — flatteries ;  i.  e.  flatteries  prac- 
tised towards  the  Romans  and  the  Syrians.  See  Liv.  Lib.  XLI.  cap. 
20.  Concerning  the  character  and  reign  of  Antiochus  Epiphanes,  see 
1  Mace.  ch.  i.  &c. ;  Jos.  Antiq.  of  the  Jews,  Book  XII.  ch.  5,  &c. ;  Ml\- 
man's  History  of  the  Jews,  Vol.  II.  p.  34,  &c. 

22. — fjrces  of  a  flood;  i.  e.  armies,  which  overwhelm  a  country  like 
a  flood  overflowing  the  banks  of  a  river.  — prince  that  is  allied,  &c. ; 
i.  e.  Ptolemy  Philometor,  his  nephew,  the  son  of  Cleopatra;  called  king 
of  the  South,  verse  25. 

24.  —  among  tliem ;  i.  e.  his  soldiers,  the  small  people,  mentioned  in 
verse  23. 

25.  — hut  he  shall  not  stand;  i.  e.  the  king  of  the  South,  i.  e.  Egypt, 
viz.  Ptolemy  Philometor. 

26. — shall  destroy  him;  i.  e.  the  king  of  the  South.  — his  army; 
i.  e.  the  army  of  Antiochus.  — shall  overflow ;  i.  e.  cover  the  land  of 
Egypt  like  a  flood. 

27. — f^r  yet  tlieend,  &c. ;  i.  e.  the  end  of  these  was  deferred  to  the 
time  appointed  by  God. 

28.  —  the  holy  covenant ;  i.  e.  against  the  Jewish  religion,  and  the  peo- 
ple that  professed  it.  See  1  Mace.  i.  41,  &c.  And  Tacitus,  Hist.  Lib. 
V.  §  8,  says:  "Rex  Antiochus,  demere  superstitionem  et  mores 
Grsecorum  dare  adnisus,  quo  minus  teterrimam  gentem  in  melius  mu- 
taret,  Parthorum  bello  prohibitus  est." 

30.  —  Chittcean :  primarily,  Cyprian,  of  the  island  Cyprus,  but  used 
to  include  the  islands  and  coasts  in  the  north  part  of  the  Mediterranean 
Sea.  Here  it  probably  denotes  ships  belonging  to  the  Romans.  See 
Gesen.  ad  verb. 

31. — of  the  destroyer:  otherwise,  of  horror.  Comp.  viii.  13,  ix.  27, 
xi.  31,  xii.  11. 

35.  —  And  sorne  of  them  of  understanding.  The  meaning  seems  to  be, 
that  even  pious  Jews  shall  undergo  fiery  trials,  in  order  to  purify 
them.  See  ver.  32,  33,  and  viii.  10.  — tiine  of  the  end.  See  note 
on  ix.  26. 

36.  —  the  king.  The  laws  of  interpretation  according  to  which  we 
interpret  other  books  seem  to  require  us  to  suppose  Antiochus  to  be 
denoted  by  this  king;  for  there  is  not  the  least  notice  of  a  change  of 
the  subject   of  discourse.     Many  interpreters,  however,  suppose    the 


412  NOTES. 

Eoman  government  to  be  denoted.  "  Now  mark/'  sajs  one  of  them, 
*'  here  the  Spirit  of  God  seems  to  slide  into  the  Eoman  monarchy.'* 
See  Poole's  Annotations,  ad  loc. 

37. — desire  of  women;  i.  e.  probably,  some  god  specially  worshipped 
by  the  Syrian  women,  such  as  Astarte,  Anaitis. 

38, — god  of  strongholds :  probably  Jupiter  Capitolinus,  for  whom 
Antiochus  began  to  build  a  temple  in  Antioch.     Liv.  XLI.  20. 

40. — time  of  the  end:  when  the  calamities  which  precede  the  Messi- 
anic times  shall  come  to  an  end.  — Icing  of  the  South;  i.  e.  of  Egypt. 
See  ver.  5,  6.  — king  of  the  No)-th ;  i.  e.  the  king  of  Syria,  viz.  Anti- 
oc^ius  Epiphanes,  at  whom  the  king  of  the  South  pushed.  The 
epithets  North  and  South  designate  the  kingdom,  and  of  course  differ- 
ent monarchs  might  be  styled  kings  of  the  North  or  South.  — shall 
rush  against  him;  i.  e.  against  the  king  of  the  South  just  mentioned. 
The  confusion  of  pronouns  in  this  verse  and  the  next,  which  belongs 
to  the  original,  I  know  not  how  to  avoid  in  the  translation  without 
too  much  circumlocution.  — into  the  countries;  i.  e.  of  the  king  of  the 
South,  i.  e.  Egypt. 

45.  —  between  the  sea.  Some  understand  tbe  river  Nile,  which  is 
sometimes  called  a  sea  ;  others,  the  Mediterranean.     See  llos.  ad  loc. 

XII.  1.  And  at  that  time.  Prof.  Stuart's  remark  on  this  phrase 
seems  to  me  perfectly  just :  "  I  follow  the  simple  grammatical  inter- 
pretation ;  and  tbat  can  have  but  one  meaning,  i.  e.  tliat  time  means 
the  same  period  mentioned  in  the  preceding  context,  and  this  is  the 
time  at  or  near  the  close  of  the  reign  of  Antiochus."  The  phrase  at 
that  time,  however,  does  not  necessarily  denote  a  very  short  period. 
It  may,  according  to  circumstances,  comprehend  ten,  fifteen,  or  twenty 
years. 

2.  And  many  of  them  that  sleep,  &c.  As  according  to  the  New  Tes- 
tament the  resurrection  of  the  dead  is  universal,  a  difficult  question 
occurs  as  to  what  the  writer  means  by  saying  that  mani/  of  the  dead 
shall  awake,  &c.  It  is  easy  to  override  grammar  and  philology,  and 
say  that  many  means  all,  because,  according  to  Christ,  all  shall  be 
raised.  But  there  is  no  Hebrew  idiom  which  explains  it.  The  Eng- 
lish reader  can  judge  as  well  as  the  best  scholar.  Nor  is  there  any 
New  Testament  idiom  which  cxjilains  it.  Ivcfevence  has  been  made  to 
Horn.  V.  19,  "as  by  one  man's  disobedience  many  were  made  sinners." 
But  in  the  Greek  it  is  ol  ttoXXol,  the  many,  in  express  contradistinction 
from  the  one  who  sinned.  In  this  case  the  many  may  mean  all.  But  in 
the  verse  under  consideration  the  Hebrew  article  is  not  used.  The 
word  is  D3;},  many,  not  D3"^n,  the  many.  According  to  philology, 
therefore,  the  author  speaks  of  a  partial  resurrection,  in  which  many 
of  the  Jews,  under  which  term  it  is  natural  to  suppose  he  includes 
thbse  distinguished  for  their  virtues  or  their  j)iitriotism,  would  rise 
from  the  dead  to  a  blessed  life,  at  the  Messiah's  ct  ;iiing,  while  some  of 
distinguished  wickedness,  and  traitors  to  their  country's  cause,  would 
be  raised  to  receive  everlasting  contempt.     In  this  case  a  large  middle 


DANIEL.  413 

class  would  remain  in  their  graves  without  resurrection.  Why  the 
writer  should  leave  out  this  middle  class,  unless  because  he  believed 
the  Messiah's  reign  to  be  on  earth,  and  that  the  land  of  Palestine 
would  not  hold  all  the  deceased  generations  of  the  Jewish  race,  it  is 
difficult  to  say.  The  Common  Version  of  the  text  is  absolutely  correct. 
It  is  true  that  in  the  Apocalypse*  there  is  mention  of  two  resurrections  ; 
one,  that  of  the  righteous,  before  the  millennial  reign  of  Christ,  and 
one,  the  resurrection  of  all  the  dead,  after  it.  But  in  the  passage  under 
consideration,  some  of  the  wicked  are  said  to  be  raised.  I  am  obliged 
to  leave  the  difficulty  as  I  find  it. 

11.  —  of  the  destroyer :  otherwise,  of  horror.  —  a  thousand  two  hundred 
and  ninety  days :  the  same  as  the  time,  times,  and  half  a  time,  or  three 
years  and  a  half,  in  verse  7. 

12.  —  a  thousand  three  hundred  and  thirty-Jive  days.  In  our  ignorance 
of  the  precise  date  of  the  book,  and  the  exact  state  of  things  in  which 
it  was  written,  I  make  no  conjecture  as  to  the  reason  why  the  writer 
made  choice  of  this  particular  number  of  days,  after  which  a  happy 
state  of  things  would  commence. 

13. — the  end;  i.  e.  of  thy  life.  — to  thy  lot;  i.  e.  in  the  resurrection. 
See  ver.  2.  — ejid  of  the  days ;  i.  e.  the  present  period  or  age  of  the 
world,  after  which  the  Messianic  times  shall  commence. 

*  Ch.  XX.  4,  5, 12. 


THE    END. 


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